Curatorial notes
Fernand Combes made "Honfleur, La Rue Gambetta" with pencil and watercolour, rendering the scene in muted, almost monochromatic tones. The palette feels restricted, like a conscious choice to focus on form and light rather than vibrant colour. What strikes me most is the texture of the cobblestone street. Combes captures the irregularity of each stone with loose, sketchy lines, using the white of the paper to create highlights that suggest wetness and reflection. The way he lets the pencil marks build up, almost haphazardly, gives a real sense of depth to the street. The buildings loom either side and the figures are loose and gestural. The entire picture plane is allowed to breathe. This reminds me a little of Camille Corot’s landscapes, where the emphasis is on capturing a fleeting moment, an atmospheric impression. This isn't about photographic accuracy. It's about feeling. And in its ambiguity, it invites us to bring our own stories to the street of Honfleur.
