The Coast, Bay of Douarnenez, France

The Coast, Bay of Douarnenez, France from 1901 depicts one of Maufra's most frequent subjects — the dramatic coastline of the Douarnenez Bay in western Brittany, where the Presqu'île de Crozon meets the open Atlantic. Douarnenez Bay was a major fishing center and offered painters both spectacular coastal scenery and the working atmosphere of an active maritime community. Maufra made multiple paintings of this coastline, exploring different conditions of weather and light. The Cincinnati Art Museum acquired this example as representative of his Breton coastal work.

Maufra renders the Atlantic coastline with an energy matching the exposed, wind-battered character of the Breton west coast. His paint application is vigorous — short, loaded strokes building the cliff faces and the turbulent sea below. The palette favors the intense blues and greens of Atlantic water under shifting light, with warm ochres in the coastal rock.