Pier of Le Havre in the Evening

Raoul Dufy was born in Le Havre, and the port city's maritime setting provided subjects throughout his career. He painted the pier and harbor between 1900 and 1904, later returning to the theme in the 1920s. The busy pier with strolling figures remained a focus until late in his work.

Dufy's encounter with Matisse's Luxe, Calme et Volupté in 1905 directed him toward Fauvism and its emphasis on bright color and bold contours. His Le Havre works trace his evolution from early Impressionism through Fauvism to later explorations of light and color. Now at the Musée Calvet in Avignon.