Port Collioure 

Henri Martin painted ‘Port Collioure’ with oil on canvas during a period when the south of France was attracting artists seeking new light and a retreat from Parisian life. Martin’s technique, influenced by both Impressionism and Pointillism, captures more than just a visual likeness; it attempts to embody the sensory experience of being there. The mosaic-like application of paint creates a shimmering effect, almost as if the heat and light are palpable. Looking at the figures on the beach, we might consider who had the leisure to be there. The artwork invites us to reflect on the accessibility of such idyllic scenes, and to wonder about the lives of those who lived and worked in Collioure year-round. Martin once said he sought to “render the joy and serenity of life.” Perhaps here, he offers us not just a picture, but an invitation to seek out our own moments of peace, wherever we may find them.