Le Sud

19th-century French oil painting on carton, signed Georges Maroniez (1865-1933).

A luminous view of a coastal village in the south of France, where the first light of morning grazes the rooftops while the shutters remain closed, hinting at a town still waking. The ocean lies just beyond, setting the backdrop for this peaceful scene.

Maroniez’s signature staccato brushstrokes add texture and movement, particularly in the sunlit façades and uneven ground. His masterful use of light creates striking contrasts, with bright tones where the sun touches and deeper hues in the shadows.

Known for his depictions of fishermen and a disappearing way of life, Maroniez captures a similar atmosphere here—an everyday moment frozen in time.

About Georges Maroniez (1865-1933)

Born in Douai on January 17, 1865, and died in Paris on December 11, 1933, he was a French painter, photographer, and inventor.

Georges Maroniez was the son of a sugar industrialist and showed a strong interest in art from an early age, supported by his father despite the preference for a legal career. After studying law, he became a magistrate while continuing his artistic training. He was a student at the Douai School of Fine Arts and later under the guidance of Pierre Billet, where he met the painter Adrien Demont. It was through Demont that Maroniez discovered the coastal landscapes of Wissant, joining the School of Wissant, a group of artists inspired by the Opal Coast, including Fernand and Marie Stievenart.

Maroniez exhibited for the first time at the Salon of Douai in 1887, and later in Paris with his painting Soleil couchant à Esquerchin. With the support of Adrien Demont, he became a member of the Société des artistes français in 1889. His work, initially influenced by naturalism, is known for its seascapes and scenes of everyday life among fishermen, depicting both the peaceful and stormy aspects of the sea.

Inventive, Maroniez also took an interest in photography and invented several cameras, including the Sphynx, which he used to capture coastal scenes. These photographs served as the basis for many of his paintings. During World War I, he was mobilized and awarded the Legion of Honor in 1918. After the war, Maroniez settled in Paris, where he focused on Breton scenes.

His body of work, comprising around 800 paintings, is housed in various museums, including those in Cambrai and Douai. Maroniez passed away in 1933, leaving behind a poignant depiction of the life of fishermen and a vanishing era.

• Overall Size: 12.5" x 15.7" / 32cm x 40.5cm.
• Size without the frame: 6.2" x 9.8" / 16.5cm x 25cm.
• Country: France.
  
• Signed: Georges Maroniez (1865-1933).
• Date: Late 19th or Early 20th century.
• Condition: The artwork and its frame are in very good condition despite some minor impacts on the frame and a small stain on the white coating in the upper right corner.  
• Materials: Oil on carton in a more modern light wooden frame. 
• Shipping: This painting includes free shipping. An additional fee is applied for Australia, New Zealand, and Asia.