Klipperne ved Etretat ved ebbe 1890 - 1891

Claude Emile Schuffenecker’s “Klipperne ved Etretat ved ebbe” seems to be made with pastel on paper. These humble materials are significant. Unlike oil paint, the favored medium of the French Academy, pastel offered a quick, direct way of capturing an impression. If you look closely, you can see the marks of the pastel sticks, dragged across the textured surface of the paper. Schuffenecker has used a range of gentle hues to evoke the cliffs and the sea, exploiting the inherent softness of pastel, which lends itself so well to atmospheric effects. Pastel is also a relatively portable medium, suited to working "en plein air" - in the open air, in the tradition of Impressionism. Although Schuffenecker was a stockbroker by profession, he knew many leading artists of his day, including Gauguin, and he likely made this work for his own pleasure. In its emphasis on material immediacy and personal experience, it resonates with the values of the Arts and Crafts movement, then gaining momentum in Europe. Ultimately, it is the artist’s embrace of simple materials and direct handling that gives this modest work its enduring appeal.