Estuary landscape, possibly Morbihan

Marcel Dyf 1899-1985, was a French, still life, portrait and landscape painter in the post impressionist manner. This picture is a monochrome watercolor and wash and is a typical scene he painted. He was a prolific painter of estuary scenes, with boats and landscape beyond, a good number of these were painted around Morbihan. This picture may have been a study for a larger work, although it is very well finished and presented as a completed work in it's own right. It remains in it's original frame with an inscription on the reverse side from his wife Claudine - which states that it is a gift to a friend. It is therefore most probably that it was a personal possession of the artist and then gifted, probably at a later date than when it was painted. I have enclosed another biography of the artist which you may find of interest. Marcel Dyf, whose real name was Marcel Dreyfus, was born in Paris on October 7, 1899. While he showed a talent for art at an early age, he began his adult life as an engineer, but by the age of 23 he became a professional artist. A self-taught artist, his influence and inspiration came from the Impressionist and Post-Impressionist artists; among his favorite was Pierre A. Renoir. Dyf set up a studio in Arles in 1922 and began his career as a landscape artist – painting views of the surrounding countryside. His work began to attract attention from collectors and dealers and it was not long before he began exhibiting at the Salon des Artists Français, Salon d'Autumn and Salon des Tulleries. By 1935 Dyf had returned to Paris and during World War II he joined the Resistance and was based in Correze. By 1950 he had set up a studio in Cannes and a few years later met a young girl by the name of Claudine. Claudine was 19 at the time, some 36 years younger than Marcel, and in 1965 after posing for him for many years the two married. The spend many years together, traveling the world in search of subject matter and each summer they would spend time in their home in Brittany. By this time Dyf had become known for his impressionistic landscapes, still lives and portraits and his paintings had been exhibited throughout the world, with shows in England, America, Canada, Germany and Algeria. Today he is considered one of the last of the true post Impressionist artists. This picture is signed. Dyf died on September 16, 1985. Here is another biography which includes his relationship with the London Gallery Frost & Reed. Marcel Dyf (1899–1985), born Marcel Dreyfus in Paris, was a celebrated French painter known for his luminous, Post-Impressionist style, primarily using oils on canvas. He is particularly famous for his vibrant French landscapes, floral still life, and portraits of his wife, Claudine. Biography Initially trained as an engineer, Dyf abandoned this career path in his early twenties to pursue painting as a self-taught artist, inspired by Impressionists like Renoir. He established a studio in Arles in 1922 and quickly gained recognition, receiving commissions for frescoes and stained-glass designs. During World War II, his artistic career was interrupted when he joined the French Resistance. After the war, he resumed painting with renewed vigour, dividing his time between Paris and the south of France. In 1954, he met his muse and future wife, Claudine, who was 36 years his junior and featured frequently in his work. They married in 1956 and travelled extensively throughout France in search of inspiring subject matter, settling in a 16th-century hunting lodge near Versailles. Dyf is considered one of the last true Impressionist artists, celebrated for his rich palette and fluid, spontaneous brushwork that conveyed a powerful sense of light and atmosphere. Relationship with Frost & Reed of London Frost & Reed, a prominent London art gallery, played a significant role in bringing Marcel Dyf's work to an international audience, particularly in the UK and the United States. Sole Representation: Frost & Reed became the primary gallery representing Dyf in London. Exhibitions: The gallery held numerous exhibitions of his work, starting in 1956 and continuing after his death, including shows in 1955, 1987, and 1990. Publications and Sales: They actively bought and sold his paintings, often attaching their gallery labels to the reverse of the canvases, which is now a key part of the provenance for many of his works. They also published limited edition prints of his paintings. Market Influence: The gallery's promotion and sales contributed significantly to establishing the strong and enduring market for Dyf's paintings among collectors worldwide.