Les Péniches

20th-century oil painting on hard carton, with an atelier stamp on the back. The work is also dated ('35-'39) and located on the back, in Meaux, south-east of Paris. 

A serene yet atmospheric river landscape, this small-format painting captures a tranquil waterway with barges and a river lock, framed by delicate trees. In the background, a bridge and an industrial structure fade softly into the horizon, subtly blending the urban with the natural.

Simon’s signature use of color sets this piece apart. The luminous blues and greens, paired with the soft glow of early evening light, create a mood rarely seen in traditional French landscapes. His unique palette—more reminiscent of distant shores than familiar European scenes—speaks to his distinct artistic vision. Through his brush, France is reimagined, its landscapes seen through a lens both personal and unexpected.

Encased in a delicate gilded frame, the piece is infused with a quiet elegance, adding a subtle glow to its nocturnal, moody ambiance.

About Robert Simon (1889-1961)

Robert Simon was a post-Impressionism Parisian artist through and through, regularly exhibiting at the Salon d'Automne and the Salon des Artistes Français. His studio, on Rue Alfred Stevens in the 9th arrondissement, placed him right in the heart of Pigalle’s golden age, a lively hub where artists, writers, and critics mingled.

His Impressionist style, with its vibrant brushstrokes and bold use of color, brought to life the atmosphere of Parisian interiors and French landscapes. Favoring small formats, he aimed to capture maximum emotion in minimal space, painting still lifes, intimate interiors, and animated city scenes with a keen sense of light and composition.

He was close to artists like Jean Pougny, Charles Kvapil, and André Lhote, and counted Claude Roger-Marx, the renowned art critic and historian, among his friends. After Simon’s passing, Roger-Marx paid tribute to him in Le Figaro with an article titled: "The painter Robert Simon passed away, brush in hand."

• Overall Size: 9.4" x 12.2" / 24.5cm x 31cm.
• Size without frame: 7.4" x 10.2" / 19.5cm x 26.5cm.
• Country of origin: France.
• Signature: Robert Simon (1889-1961).
• Creation date: 1935-39. 
• Condition: The work has a couple of tiny losses but remains protected by its varnish. The frame has some minor impacts. 
• Materials: Oil painting on a hardboard with a more modern light wooden frame.
• Shipping: Complimentary shipping to the US and Europe. A surcharge will be applied for deliveries to Australia, New Zealand, and Asia.