The Promenade by the Sea by Raoul Dufy

The Promenade by the Sea - Raoul Dufy - Fine Art Oil Painting

About This Piece

Choose The Promenade by the Sea as a hand painted oil painting and skip the compromise of printed wall decor. Based on Raoul Dufy's original. Our artists rebuild the fine art composition stroke by stroke, producing fauvist canvas wall art with lasting color depth.

The Story Behind the Painting

La promenade au bord de la mer, circa 1924
Oil on canvas
23 3/4 x 28 3/4 in. (60.3 x 73 cm.)

Painted in circa 1924, La promenade au bord de la mer, depicts one of the most popular themes in the work of Raoul Dufy. A native of Normandy – Dufy was born in Le Havre – the artist had been painting Sainte-Adresse since his early career. La promenade au bord de la mer, captures a scene seemingly from the end of summer: under a mercurial sky, a few passers-by have stopped to contemplate some boats, floating on a menacing sea. Using broad brushstrokes of green, blue and grey, Dufy has managed to depict the deep, somber tones of agitated waters, as well as the menacing icy light of a volatile sky.

In 1905, the Fauvist exploit at the Salon d’Automne had strongly impressed the young Dufy, who embraced colours and flowing lines following the example of Henri Matisse. It was, however, Albert Marquet who showed Dufy the path towards Fauvism: the two artists spent the summer of 1906 painting together in Le Havre, Trouville and Honfleur, portraying, among other subjects, Sainte-Adresse.

By the time Dufy painted La promenade au bord de la mer, in the 1920s, however, he had found his own style: brilliant and direct colours are combined with simplified figures and schematic compositions, which vividly evoke the lively narratives of modern life. Perhaps commenting on the development of his own style, in one of his notebooks Dufy had observed: ‘One may paint from nature throughout one’s life, but one may also accept that, having learned by years of practice which have shown us all the outward appearances that things can assume, and having discovered, through analysis and reflection, the main cause behind the phenomena of light and colour (…) you have been able to establish a system for yourself that enables you to express yourself, brush in hand, without being forced constantly to go back and check each individual thing checked so often before’ (Handwritten note, quoted in D. Perez-Tibi, Dufy, London, 1989, p.139).

Our artists reproduce this fine art composition in oil on canvas by hand, preserving the tonal range that makes fine art oil painting so sought after for a dining room.

100% Hand Painted on Canvas

Trained artists work in stages — underpainting, mid-tones, highlights, and detail — using traditional oils on canvas. Because nothing is printed, every hand painted oil painting has its own subtle texture and depth.

Specifications & What You Receive

• Every fine art canvas is hand painted in oils; no mechanical or digital reproduction at any stage.
• Comes with a 2-inch unpainted margin on every side, ready for stretcher bars or a frame.
• No middlemen — we ship directly to you worldwide.
• Available canvas sizes for this hand painted oil painting: 20 X 24 in, 24 X 36 in, 30 X 40 in, 36 X 48 in, 48 X 72 in.
• Made-to-measure options are available for this fine art canvas.
• We work with DHL, UPS, FedEx, USPS and additional couriers to keep delivery affordable.
• Free professional stretching on wooden stretcher bars — contact us for framing options.
• Before dispatch we email a digital proof so you can approve the finished canvas.

Wall Decor & Gifting

For dining room wall art that does not feel generic, a painted fine art canvas is hard to beat. It is a popular fine art oil painting pick for new homeowners and a durable alternative to seasonal poster art.

Ordering & Peace of Mind

In short: The Promenade by the Sea - Raoul Dufy - Fine Art Oil Painting combines a fauvist composition, a 100% hand painted oil painting process, and the flexibility of made-to-order canvas sizes — a dependable choice for fine art oil painting and dining room wall art.