T his tranquil depiction of sunny Préfailles provides solace from the political reality of France circa 1922. Lebasque spent the turbulent years of World War I as a painter to the French Army, after which he eagerly retreated to the calm and charm of coastal life; his subject matter shifted abruptly from loss and conflict to leisure and beauty. The present work is a prime example of the latter.

In 1924, shortly after painting the present work, Lebasque moved permanently from Paris to Le Cannet on the French Riviera. He devoted himself to the landscape and lifestyle of southern France, infusing his work with its specific palette and energy. During this t.mes , he also found inspiration in Les Nabi, a group of artists who were active at the turn of the twentieth century and who were characterized, among other things, by the flatness of their forms and the influence of Japanese prints on their compositions. Popular subjects among these artists were dynamic interior spaces and idyllic garden scenes.

The smoothness, softness and pastel colors of the present work are quintessential hallmarks of Lebasque's mature style during the final stretch of his life on the coast. In this work, he captures the calm of a summer day on the Mediterranean with meandering lines and a subdued palette of blue, green and ochre dotted with striking yellow. The composition is harmonious and balanced, it draws the viewer into a moment of respite. This quality was perhaps intentional on the part of Lebasque, who likely sought refuge and peace in his paintings amidst the turbulent years that followed World War I.