The French island of Ushant in Brittany is captured in a brilliant palette of jewel tones in this exceptional oil on canvas by the French Impressionist Henry Moret. The artist's rich impasto poetically conveys the lush and rugged coastline of northern France in a profusion of green, blue and purple hues. Masterfully composed, L'Ile de Ouessant, Le Soir embodies Moret's highly unique and much beloved style, reflecting his genius for recreating natural phenomena on canvas.

Moret was one of the most celebrated painters of the Pont-Aven School, a group of artists who worked closely with the great Paul Gauguin in the northwestern region of France. Moret's works clearly betray Gauguin's influence in their bold application of pure color, though Moret never completely adopted the Symbolist subjects or flattened forms of his predecessor. Instead, he renders his landscapes faithfully, beautifully capturing the play of light and atmosphere on the lush greenery and tranquil seascape. Simultaneously naturalistic and emotive, this remarkable oil on canvas betrays Moret’s intense devotion and love for the region.

It was as a young man in military service in 1875 that Moret first discovered the beauty of France’s northern coasts, particularly those of Normandy and Brittany. After his tour ended, he embarked on his artistic career, completing his formal education at the École Nationale des Beaux-Arts under Jean-Paul Laurens and Jean-Leon Gérôme. In 1881, he returned to the North and became greatly influenced by the artists of Pont-Aven, particularly Gauguin. Though his early canvases hinted towards Symbolism, he primarily painted in the Impressionist style throughout his career.

In 1895, he formed a fruitful relationship with the famed dealer Durand-Ruel, and his career was officially launched. He began to exhibit extensively around the world, particularly in Paris and New York, where he enjoyed a growing clientele for his work. Today, his paintings can be found in important museums including the Manchester Art Gallery, the State Hermitage Museum (St. Petersburg), the National Gallery of Art (Washington DC) and others.