Charles Henry FROMUTH (1861-1937) Concarneau, (circa 1900) Pastel on paper signed lower left and stamp of the artist titled and countersigned on the back "fishing boats, a dock decoration, evening" 60x45cm Very beautiful original molded oak frame 78x64cm (very good condition) provenance Private collection, Pennsylvania. American painter born in 1866 in Philadelphia and died in 1937 in Concarneau. Student at the School of Fine Arts in Philadelphia under the direction of Thomas Eakins; he discovered Europe and Paris in 1889 and came to Concarneau and Pont-Aven for the first time in 1890. With the exception of a trip to the United States in 1910, he spent the rest of his life in Concarneau, boarding at the Hôtel de France in this sardine port. During the Universal Exhibition of 1900, he discovered Japanese art and in particular Hokusai. All his work is devoted to the animation of boats in the port of Concarneau mainly. "Movement is the central idea of my work" wrote Charles Fromuth. He exhibited regularly in Europe, obtaining various prizes and medals, until 1910. After this date, he no longer exhibited and led a hermit's life entirely devoted to his pastels and his charcoals representing boats fleeing under sail. The Museum of Fine Arts in Pont-Aven devoted an exhibition to him in 1989. public collections . Washington, National Gallery of Art: The Tempest, 19083. Quimper Museum of Fine Arts: A Snow Scenery, Disarmed Boats, 1897.
