Le Phare by Nicolas de Staël (1952) — Poster

A lighthouse stands solitary against the sea. In Le Phare, Nicolas de Staël renders architecture as both beacon and barrier, a vertical slash between the horizontal bands of water and sky. The sky is a thick slab of cobalt, the water a churn of ochre and umber. The lighthouse itself is a study in contrast, its white form stark against the muted tones of the landscape. The brushstrokes are thick and deliberate, each one a decision, a movement. This poster brings a sense of quiet resolve to a study or library, where contemplation is the order of the day.