Quayside in Le Havre 1905

Maxime Maufra sketched the Quayside in Le Havre with watercolour and ink in 1905, using dynamic mark making to capture an industrial harbour scene. I love the energetic lines that seem to dance across the page. The colours are muted, mostly browns and greys, with touches of red to draw the eye. Maufra's approach is so direct; you can almost feel the grit and grime of the docks. Look at the way he suggests the steam rising from the ships, using wisps of grey wash that contrast with the solid, dark lines of the masts. It's like he's trying to capture a fleeting moment, the hustle and bustle of the harbour, in a way that feels both immediate and timeless. This piece reminds me of some of Boudin’s harbour scenes. There's a similar interest in capturing the atmosphere of a place, but Maufra brings a more modern sensibility to it, a sense of dynamism that speaks to the changing nature of the world.