Twilight at the lakeside, La Brière

Paul Gaugin, a close friend of the artist, nicknamed Puigaudeau ‘Piccolo’. After painting extensively in Pont-Avon and recording the Venetian light, Puigaudeau moved to a small hamlet in Brittany. Here his attention turned from painting figures to capturing light and its luminous effects on the landscape. During 1924-26 he was commissioned to illustrate a book titled La Brière. Everyday Puigaudeau would cycle to this area, enthusiastically chronicling the light effects. Unfortunately the book was never printed and the works remained unused, but it is likely the present work – where a figure sits calmly whilst the encompassing landscape gives its colourful response to the fading light - is from this period.