Signac harbor watercolors are his most recognized and sought-after works on paper. He was appointed the Peintre de la Marine (Official Painter of the French Navy) in 1915.

This is a fully realized, vibrant composition. Executed in watercolor and charcoal, this work displays a particularly spontaneous side of Signac’s artistic approach. The combination of expressive drawing and luminous washes conveys the bustle of a working harbor while retaining the freshness of a quickly captured impression. The work is signed and inscribed at the lower left, “P. Signac St. Malo May 28,” connecting the composition to a specific place and day. Its documented provenance includes the Hilde Gerst Gallery in New York before entering the Kimble Collection in 2000.