The Coal Crane, Clichy
- Original dimensions
- 91.4 x 59 cm
- Museum
- Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum
- Year
- 1884
Scene depicted
The Coal Crane, Clichy depicts a scene full of life, highlighting the industrial activity of the region. Signac chooses to celebrate a crane, nicknamed here for its essential role, defying the horizon. Each brushstroke reveals the movements of a laboring humanity, while preserving a vital dialogue with the surrounding nature.
Historical context
Artwork: The Coal Crane, Clichy |BRK| Artist: Paul Signac |BRK| Year: 1884 |BRK| Museum: Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum |BRK| Dimensions: 91.4 x 59 cm |BRK|
Place in the artist's career
This painting finds its place at a crucial moment in Paul Signac 's career, marking a phase where his technique refines. Next to paintings like The Port of Marseille (1886) and Portrait of Félix Fénéon , The Coal Crane, Clichy stands out as the first in-depth exploration of a new pictorial style, revealing the sensitive soul of the artist.
Anecdote
“Every painting is a window open to the soul of the world,” Signac is said to have declared one day. Imagine him, on a bright morning, gazing at the crane still laboring, clearly outlined against the azure sky. This painting is born from a meeting between nature and architecture, revealing the harmony of a fleeting moment.