Paul-François Louchet (1854-1936) - Sous la canopée, face au miroir argenté 

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I offer an authentic work in perfect condition signed and countersigned by Paul LOUCHET (1854-1936) representing one of the picturesque banks of the Hermance in Switzerland on the shores of Lake Geneva. This nostalgic painting inspires us with a bucolic calm, its small pebble beaches shaded by centuries-old plane trees.

The visual language of this painting forms an opposition between the verticality of the mountains and trees, and the horizontality of the suspended canopy, the lake, and the clouds. This is a fundamental principle of the visual arts. The directional contrast with its principle of structural opposition thus creates vertical and horizontal guiding lines.
- the trunks of trees and those in the distance evoke impulse, growth, gravity conquered and rigid stability. They act as anchors or “anchor lines” that structure the space. In opposition, the canopy, the lake, and the clouds on the horizon symbolize calm, vastness, infinity, and rest.
- the painter also uses the technique of the so-called “visual grid” or “orthogonality” by crossing these vertical and horizontal axes. This technique brings surprising balance. The viewer’s gaze is first captured by the rising strength of the sturdy trees, then it is released and soothed by the broad horizontal expanse of the water.
- in a lakeside landscape like this, this opposition plays a major technical role: the reflection of the symmetry of the planes. The canopy extends into vertical reflections inverted on the horizontal surface of the water’s mirror. This interweaving creates subtle visual tension: the vertical trees seem to “anchor” the two extremes that are the sky and the earth, while the horizontality of the lake absorbs and unifies the entire composition.

Created in a rare combination of mixed techniques, combining the depth of oil painting, the powdery texture of pastel, and the luminous opacity of gouache, this piece testifies to the artistic vitality before a landscape full of quietude. The subtle marriage of oil, pastel, and gouache on a single support demonstrates the work of a virtuoso, demanding special attention. The palette ranges from soft, diaphanous tones to more assertive strokes, evidencing a careful observation of the changing light on Lake Geneva.

Dimensions of the work: 42.5 x 19.5 cm
Dimensions of the frame: 60 x 40 cm

This oil on paper was recently cleaned by a professional, then a UV-protective varnish from Winsor & Newton was applied. An antique moulded frame that could be original was completely restored (glued and nailed). The ready-to-display ensemble is both elegant and robust.

Paul-François LOUCHET (1854-1936) is a versatile artist, initially recognized as a bronze engraver, then chaser and sculptor in the Art Nouveau style, and finally a landscape painter and etcher in the last 15 years of his life.

This work from around 1920 virtuously combines oil, pastel, and gouache to capture the timeless light of Lake Geneva. The striking contrast between the slender verticality of the trees and the soothing horizontality of the water structures the space with masterful balance. This dialogue between the elements creates a beautiful composition that is at once rigorous and poetic, typical of the Belle Époque landscape aesthetic.