The Beach of Les Grands Sables at Le Pouldu

In the summer of 1890, Paul Sérusier traveled to the small seaside village of Le Pouldu in Brittany in northwestern France. The artist was struck by the area’s dramatic, untamed landscape, particularly its beaches’ sweeping dunes and wind-bent trees, which dominate this picture. He emphasized the power of nature by including a tiny human figure among the dunes. Seeking to convey the sensations of the environment without being overly representational, Sérusier composed the picture with fields of pure, bold color and strong lines. This style, called synthetism, was also championed by Paul Gauguin.