Be still a while and know that I am God. I will be exalted by the nations… in Him we move and have our being… the heavens declare His hand made work … the earth and all the animals are His.
The Bible.
I’m writing this as we board the ferry, we will soon be home.
Last night we parked at Le Crotoy, about 100 miles from Calais and I was eager to see it at dawn, as I had read that Guerian had created a perfume called ‘ L’heure Bleue.’ The name for his perfume was inspired by the special shades of blue, purple, violet that cover this bay at dawn. There was colour this morning with light but not sun in a clear sky.
The white of the sands picks up light well while the calm still water reflects precisely. A grey but clear time of early morning.
The whole of what you saw as a part. The shore and the winter shrub now in the distance.
There have been several painters inspired by the bay of the Somme. The one I chose to look at last night was Paul Signac 1863-1935. He had an interesting way of placing ‘dabs’ of paint and filling the canvas with light. When I looked at my surroundings this morning I could see repetitive dabs on the shore with sleek smooth lines of water carving their way to the sea. The intense beauty of these multicoloured yet supposedly grey scenes were special.
Opposite these wide open carved spaces looking into the town is a statue of Jane of Arc her wrists in chains.
My thought was: ‘ She represents all of us- we all carry chains even those who think they are free.’
But why was she in chains after saving her country as a 17-year old? Those chains did lead to martyrdom at 19. I leave you to find the story.
A strong figure with arms well formed, dress in folds, face resigned, a fringe and hair behind her ears. She looks upon a sleeping town on a cold, misty Monday morning. I wonder what her last thoughts were.
Shutters closed to the morning mists and cold. Clean blue, brown, green, yellow, a one way street. You may leave but not enter.
We leave the quiet town to look at the bay and the changing light making a canal green.
Lots of ‘dabs’ of colour.
Here are a few things Paul Signac said about painting/art:
‘ The art of the colourist has in some ways elements of mathematics and music.’
‘ By the elimination of all muddy colours, by the exclusive use of optical mixture of pure colours, by a methodical divisionism and a strict observation of the scientific theory of colours, the neo- impressionists insure a maximum of luminosity, of colour intensity, and of harmony – a result that has never yet been obtained.’
‘ The anarchist painter is not the one who will create anachist pictures, but the one who will fight for his individuality against official conventions.’
If you wish to see a large number of Paul Signac’s paintings press on this link. https://youtu.be/UWuQXVbssAI?si=6H0ieJVbA_7jhNi4
This is my last post from this trip and all is calm on the sea.
Thank you for looking at my posts while we appreciated our lovely Earth.
It is a beautiful world.
Sandy 🙂
Sorry I’ve missed your posts, but this ending to your last trip sounds like it was a good one, seeing Mother Earth is fascinating. 🙂 I miss being on the road in our RV.
Nice to know you are in this space. Take care and we will continue to enjoy ‘who,whooing’.
Thank you for sharing your adventures and discoveries with us Sandy. I enjoyed your journey and thoughts throughout France, Spain and Portugal.
Thank you for being with us. Good friends.