In the Gulf of Arafura Watercolor by André Ragot, 1950s

Dans le Golfe de Arafura is an original modern artwork realized in the middle of the XX Century by the French Artist André Ragot (1894 - 1971). Hand-signed on the lower right corner: A. Ragot. The title of the work is written in black ink on the back of the work in French: Dans le Golfe d'Arafura. Watercolor on cardboard. White passepartout is included (cm 49 x 69). Image Dimensions： 35 x 44.5 cm Mint condition. Delicate watercolor on paper depicting a seaside scene. The colors are very interesting, expressionistic but warm and soft at the same time. We can see a contrast between the surface of the sea and the sky but both are realized with the same shades of warm colors. On the back of the work the title suggests that we are in the Arafura Sea, in the Pacific Ocean. The Arafura Sea name is from the indigenous name for ''the people of mountains'' in the Moluccas (part of Indonesia). It has been suggested that the name Arafura is of Portuguese origin, a corruption of the word ''Alfours'', meaning ''free men''. This work has been realized by André Ragot (1894 - 1971). André Ragot was a naval officer and French watercolorist. Indeed he is also recognized as intimate watercolourist, and left many works and sketches taken from life, in particular of young sailors (he met all his models and each of his works keeps on the back the name, profession, year, the place in all the ports he visited). He also brought back numerous watercolors from the Far East, Indochina and the Middle East. He was also an eminent member of the association of friends of Pierre Loti, of the Renan circle and of the Rationalist Union.