French Impressionist Oil Painting of Shellfish Gatherers by the Shoreline

Title: French Impressionist Oil Painting of Shellfish Gatherers by the Shoreline By Fanch Lel (French b. 1930) Size: 8.75 x 10.75 inches (height x width) Signed: Yes Oil painting on board, unframed Condition: The painting is in good condition, with minor signs of aging. 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 piece by Fanch Lel presents two figures gathering shellfish along a rocky coastal landscape under a clear blue sky. The figures, dressed in bright yellow and earthy brown, stand out against the muted tones of the sandy shore and the tranquil, open sea beyond them. The rugged coastline and scattered rocks give a sense of place, evoking the Brittany region’s natural beauty and coastal heritage. The loose brushwork and warm color palette capture the quiet industriousness of the scene, imbuing it with an almost timeless quality. Lel’s choice of an earthy palette grounds the painting in nature, while the sky’s soft blue tones suggest a calm day, perfect for shellfish gathering. This scene highlights the traditional Breton lifestyle, where the ocean plays a vital role in daily life. Through Lel’s impressionistic style, the viewer can feel the balance between hard work and the serene environment, a hallmark of coastal life in Brittany.