Yves Decaudan - Reflet à quai

Marine painting 'Quay Reflection' 2026
This painting, titled "Reflet à quai" by Yves Decaudan, is a contemporary work that plays on the boundary between figuration—one recognizes objects—and abstraction; the forms are simplified and stylized. The painting depicts two moored boats, probably in a port, standing out against an omnipresent blue background. A small white boat with a touch of orange inside. Its reflection in the water is treated with fragmented grays and whites.
A more imposing ship, mostly black, with vertical white and gray panels. You can discern slender structures rising upward (masts or shrouds) and a small red dot that catches the eye.
A gradient of deep, textured blues that blends the sky and the water, creating an immersive atmosphere.
It's a work that prioritizes evocation over description. It captures the essence of a port: the smell of tar, the freshness of the water, and the silence of boats waiting to depart. One senses an influence from painters like Nicolas de Staël in the handling of blocks of color and material.
Painting by the artist painter Yves Decaudan - 1954
Acrylic on cotton canvas, wooden frame, unframed, dimensions 70 x 70 cm.
Shipment in a display carton.