Ostend Harbour
Artist / maker
Constant Permeke (painters (artists))Date
ca. 1913Period
20th centuryCollection
Museum of Fine Arts Ghent
This harbour scene was painted when Constant Permeke was still very young and we recognise in it several influences. His use of vivid colours tells us that Permeke was very much influenced by Emile Claus’ Luminism. The view of the harbour with quay and sailing boats almost seems to be an excuse for the artist to play with light and…
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This harbour scene was painted when Constant Permeke was still very young and we recognise in it several influences. His use of vivid colours tells us that Permeke was very much influenced by Emile Claus’ Luminism. The view of the harbour with quay and sailing boats almost seems to be an excuse for the artist to play with light and colour. The simple geometric composition reminds us of the austere compositions of the neo-impressionists Georges Seurat and Paul Signac and their Belgian followers, including Théo Van Rysselberghe. Finally, the expressive brushstrokes and the emphasis on the rough substance of the paint remind us of James Ensor who, like Permeke, lived in Ostend.
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