At the Côte d’Azur c. 1926

Carl Moll captured this view of the Côte d’Azur with oil on canvas, using expressive brushwork to depict the famed landscape. Painted in the early 20th century, this work reflects the growing accessibility of the French Riviera to the European bourgeoisie, facilitated by the expansion of railway networks. Moll, associated with the Vienna Secession, presents not just a landscape, but a destination. The Côte d’Azur was becoming synonymous with leisure and escape, a haven for artists and the well-to-do, escaping the industrial cities of the north. The vibrant color palette and loose brushstrokes evoke the sensory experience of the region, rather than a precise topographical rendering. Moll’s involvement with the Secession, an art movement that challenged the conservative artistic establishment, signals a progressive stance. In understanding this work, consulting travel literature, social histories of tourism, and records from art institutions of the time can provide deeper insight. The artwork's meaning is contingent on these social and institutional factors, which shape our interpretation.