Above the neon lights, a dozen boats spread over an ink-dark sea hoist their bright flags in a sumptuous nautical celebration. This kind of subject – regattas, nautical festivals, fleet stopovers – brought Dufy success. Born in Le Havre, France’s largest port, and he never ceased depicting liners, cargo ships and elaborate gatherings of sailing vessels. The bulwarks are decked here with garlands of light, and all around are myriad red and green dots, a fireworks display and beams of light criss-crossing the sky and the sea.

 Boat festival, Le Havre, 1925, mamvp

Visuel de la fresque (détail)