Colors of the Souths

The multiplicity of their works, both in their style and in their motifs, testifies to their personality and uniqueness. Each in their own way and according to their generation, they have been in perpetual evolution in their work, always united by family ties, by the love of painting and loyalty to the South.

Many themes illustrate the closeness of father and son, who painted together very early. The views of the canals of Venice where everyone settled with their easel, the play of reflections in the water of the Mirror of birds in Martigues, as well as the Indochinese landscapes are all subjects that they have focused in their works. The choice of common sites is sometimes made inevitable by their picturesque and symbolic appeal, such as Saint Marc's Basilica and the lagoon in Venice, the creeks of Marseilles or, in Indochina, Halong Bay and the shores of Little Lake Hanoi. The convergence of styles and motifs remained until the mid-1920s, when Antoine Ponchin and his son acquired respectability and honors together.

Antoine Ponchin did not remain a “colonial” painter for long. The Tunisian or Indochinese exoticism, the prestigious decorations (the Legion of Honor and the Order of Annam) did not make him forget Provence and the search for light. He remains faithful to an impressionist spirit where he once again promotes his native Provence with the serenity that characterizes his personality and all of his work.

Important information:
Duration 1 hour of visit approximately

Your ticket is valid for the two current exhibitions, "Colors of the Souths, Antoine & Jos Henri Ponchin" and "Marseille, from Port to Ports"