An absolutely wonderful Impressionist coastal village scene that could hold its own in any collection of superb oil paintings (see artist bio below). I've priced it right in the middle of the auction (wholesale!) price estimates of $3,000 to $5,000 for a similar painting by the artist being offered at auction in New Orleans in 2019, so I think it's a real deal. The sun beams down on fishing boats and fishermen mending nets and repairing in preparation for their next outing. Masterful and delicate daubs of paint demonstrate the artist’s intensive training in Impressionist techniques. Even in what appears to be the neutral-colored sandy soil of the shore, you can see blues, purples, reds, ochres and other bold hues combined to create the overall effect the masters were after in their experiments to capture how we really see. A very happy scene, almost certainly painted on an easel outdoors, plein-air style. 27”h x 34.5”w (18.25”h x 25.75” unframed)
Here's some biographical information on the artist: "Charles Malfroy was an accomplished French artist who specialized in coastal, marine and landscape painting. He was born in Lyon on the 27th March 1862 and was the father of noted marine artist Henry Malfroy (1895-1942). After completing his formal art training at the Beaux-Arts de Lyon, Malfroy embarked on his artistic career with exhibitions at the Salon in Lyon beginning in 1881.
Charles Malfroy was an impressionist painter in the manner of important Marseille artist John Baptiste Olive. He was the observer of effects of light rendered with both freshness and decision combined with a subtle use of colour, creating wonderful views of the fishing villages on the French coastline."
Source: "Charles Malfroy", Select Fine Art