Fishers returning from the sea.

Drawing, brush with grey and white wash, traces of black chalk, 26 x 35 cm, thick paper, signed with studio stamp at lower left.

Paul-Jean Clays (1819-1900) was one of Belgium's finest marine painters. Early in his career he substituted a sincere study of nature for the extravagant and artificial conventionality of most of his predecessors. He painted the peaceful life of rivers, the poetry of wide estuaries, the regulated stir of roadsteads and ports. His paintings are now in major collections such as the National Gallery in London or the Neue Pinakothek in Munich.
Joined: 1. Idem - The navigator. Drawing, pen and brown ink, 21,1 x 14,5 cm, thick paper, signed with initials "PC" (pin-holes in corners).- 2. Idem (attributed to) - Street view with tower in the distance. Drawing, charcoal, white chalk, 32,5 x 53,5 cm, wove paper, unsigned (tear at lower margin, edges sl. frayed).- 3. Vandersypen. After P.-J. Clays - Marine. Etching, 16 x 23,5 cm, laid paper, signed in the plate. (4 pcs)