An absolutely superior work by artist Jean Pierre Cassigneul, on a glance this painting of a woman walking her little dog on a beach boardwalk is instantly appealing. Subsequent views make this charming narrative portrait even more so. The vibrancy of the use of primary colors invokes a clean, bright simplicity to their world, and the slightly exaggerated, lithe stature of the central woman and a yellow-dressed companion sliding off stage right make a viewer wish to visit more of their stories.

The linear flow of the painting translates the ocean’s distance and dark-blue horizon’s depth, and delineates the boardwalk’s wood planks to the stretch of white-sand beach. The French-style blue beach tents capture the work’s title, while the partial flag overhead and a colorful patterned scarf compete for the attention of the breeze. The small brown dog is having none of it, ready for the leash-holder to began again after her introspective pause.

One would be remiss not to notice the fashion present: beret and floral pin accent the first woman’s outfit in contrast to the fore-mentioned scarf, and the modest yet feminine 1920s cut of the dresses complete with coordinated heels, and the “graffito” belt, created in the thick oil by the artist’s linear cross-hatched scratches . A overall very desirable work by Cassigneul, an artist we feel is increasing in esteem and demand.