
Description
Title: French Impressionist Harbour Scene with Moored Fishing Boats by Fanch Lel By Fanch Lel
Size: 19.5 x 20.75 inches (height x width) Oil painting on cardboard, unframed Condition: Good condition overall with minor surface handling marks and light wear to edges, consistent with its medium and vintage character. Painted on corrugated card, which adds visible texture and depth.
Provenance: All the paintings we have for sale by this artist have come from the artists estate and have had no previous owners at all.
Description: This striking harbour scene by French painter Fanch Lel presents a quiet line of fishing boats moored side by side, their hulls casting soft reflections onto the calm waters below. Painted in oil on corrugated board, the texture of the support enhances the rustic, tactile quality of the work—typical of Lel’s expressive, impressionistic style. The boats are rendered in shades of ochre, blush pink, faded turquoise, and pale cream, with bold black outlines and mast details creating structure against the cool grey-blue sea and sky. Each vessel has a distinct silhouette and cabin form, but together they form a harmonious rhythm across the horizontal composition. In the background, a hazy strip of shoreline with scattered white buildings evokes a distant coastal village, lending depth and narrative to the piece. The restrained yet varied palette and strong brushwork give the painting a timeless feel—capturing a moment of stillness in the everyday life of a working port. Likely inspired by scenes from Brittany or Normandy, this work pays homage to France’s maritime heritage, where fleets of fishing boats are common sights along the Atlantic coast. Ideal for collectors who appreciate post-war French Impressionism, marine subjects, and textured, expressive brush techniques, this is a contemplative and characterful work with both decorative and historical charm.
Reserve: $864.00
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Buyer's Premium
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Etienne Auguste Krier ; Early 1900's French Impressionist Oil Sketch Quiet Venetian Backwater Canal
Estimate $1,000-$1,200
Starting Price
$420
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Exquisite Fine Art Paintings and Prints
Feb 12, 2026 10:00 AM ESTNew York, NY, United States
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