Watercolor signed Antral* representing a view of a port with steamboats and sailing ships in the foreground, cranes of the commercial port or shipyard in the background; most certainly a view of the port of Le Havre in Normandy, from the 20th century.
This watercolor is in good condition, it is under glass. Signed lower right (and dedicated "To my friend?")
Please note: some weather scratches on the wooden frame, slight wear, see photos.
is a French painter, engraver and lithographer known as one of the "painters of the Marne Valley". After studying at the École des Arts Décoratifs in Paris, interrupted by the First World War from which he returned wounded, Robert Antral attended Cormon's studio. A watercolourist, he won the Prix Blumenthal in 1926. A member of the Salon des Indépendants, he exhibited paintings in cold colours of the enclosed spaces of ports and suburbs. He was also a member of the Salon d'Automne. He produced several posters, such as Le Jour de la Paix which is kept at the Musée d'Histoire Contemporaine in Paris, and contributed to the weekly Floréal (1920-1923). He illustrated many works, for example for Mac Orlan À Huis clos, in 1920, Maurice Genevoix, La Boîte à pêche, in 1933, Henry de Monfreid Le Chant du Toukan, published in 1941, Rudyard Kipling Les Meilleurs Contes, in 1938, etc. A posthumous retrospective of his work took place in 1945 at the Galliera Museum. An Antral prize was awarded for several years by the city of Paris.
Artist highly rated on ArtPrice