French Harbour Scene with Moored Boats and Distant Cityscape at Sunset

Title: French Harbour Scene with Moored Boats and Distant Cityscape at Sunset
By Fanch Lel
Signed: Yes
Size: 19.25 x 20.5 inches (height x width)
Oil painting on cardboard, unframed
Condition: The painting is in good condition with minor signs of wear and handling along the edges consistent with age.
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:
In this elegant and subtly abstracted painting, Fanch Lel presents a tranquil French harbour, its waters dotted with gently rocking fishing boats as evening light spreads across the city skyline. With its limited but expressive palette of pastel pinks, dusty blues, ochres, and lavenders, this piece radiates a sense of calm, balancing impressionist brushwork with near-abstract layering.

In the foreground, small wooden boats—each uniquely rendered—float in softly rippling water that captures the light of a fading sunset. The artist’s use of dry-brush and broken strokes suggests reflection, tide, and texture with painterly flair. A seawall divides the space, grounding the composition before the eye is drawn to the silhouetted cityscape beyond, softened by atmospheric haze.

Though the specific location is not identified, the scene is reminiscent of Atlantic port towns like La Rochelle, Douarnenez, or even Saint-Malo—places where boats and working harbours mingle with historic stone architecture. Lel’s treatment of the buildings is loose and rhythmic, suggesting more than stating, allowing the viewer to experience the atmosphere rather than focus on detail.

This painting would be ideal for collectors who appreciate French coastal art with a modernist twist, or interior designers looking for soothing, evocative artwork that bridges tradition and abstraction. Its soft tonal range and warm composition suit a variety of interiors, from seaside homes to contemporary spaces seeking subtle colour and narrative charm.