artist
Le Beau was a French painter influenced by the Pont-Aven School, particularly its bold color, simplified forms, and strong outlines. His work bridged Divisionism and Post-Impressionism while reflecting the Synthetist emphasis on flatness, emotional resonance, and decorative composition. Born in Lorient, he studied in Paris from 1890 but often painted landscapes of Brittany, the Côte d’Azur, Corsica, and Sicily, frequently alongside his companion, painter Irène Reno. Closely tied to the legacy of Gauguin and Bernard, Le Beau is remembered for his vigorous brushwork and lyrical use of color, which secured him a place among the respected figures of early twentieth-century French art.
Description
This delicate drawing by Alcide Le Beau depicts a winter landscape animated by rhythmic line and restrained color. At its center, a broad stone bridge arches gracefully over a narrow stream, leading the eye into a scene framed by bare trees and distant mountains. Le Beau’s use of finely hatched strokes and swirling sky patterns recalls both the Pont-Aven School’s emphasis on simplified forms and decorative flatness, as well as Post-Impressionist experimentation with line and surface. Subtle touches of muted red, green, and gray enliven the otherwise pale setting, giving the composition a lyrical quality. Both structured and atmospheric, the work reflects Le Beau’s ability to balance clarity of form with poetic resonance.
provenance
Thierry - Lannon & Associés, Brest France, August 2025
