C.V.P.’s Exquisite Oil Painting

In this oil on canvas, signed ‘CVP’, the artist appears to be interested in depicting the essence of the natural world. Pale blues and warm greys evoke the atmospheric qualities of a calm, overcast day by the sea, while the weathered structure on the left reminds us of the power and effects of nature. Against the contrast of the paler hues of this landscape, our eye is drawn to the two dark figures, whose anonymous silhouettes create a sense of mystery and narrative.

A central characteristic of this painting is the distinctive landscape format. The horizontal structure of this composition encourages our eye to move across the canvas, and is further emphasised throughout the painting through a range of horizontal motifs, from the line of the horizon and the shoreline, to the dark marks in the foreground.