142 - ARRUE Ramiro, 1892–1971,

ARRUE Ramiro, 1892–1971, Sailors on the pier at the port of Pasaia, Spain, oil on panel (trace of a signature in the upper left corner), signed lower right, annotated “Dotezac” on the reverse, and the notation “Trumeau,” which may refer to the painting’s intended use as a decorative element in an interior 89x77 cm. The inscription on the reverse of our painting refers to Dr. Émile Dotézac, who served as mayor of Cambo from 1935 to 1944. A local physician, he was friends with Ramiro Arrue and owned several of the artist’s works in his collection. Ramiro Arrue is a major artist from the Spanish Basque Country, whose distinctive style has made him the region’s iconic painter. He studied at the Grande Chaumière around 1900 and frequented Montparnasse with his compatriots and other artists in the neighborhood: Zuloaga, Durrio, Bourdelle, Picasso, Modigliani, and Cocteau. Founder of the Basque Museum in Bayonne in 1922, he continually drew inspiration from his homeland: landscapes, scenes of daily life, and portraits. His art combines power and gentleness in balanced compositions, featuring simplified harmonies and synthetic forms. Proud and noble, the men and women who populate his works bear witness to the living traditions of the Basque Country and evoke Ramiro Arrue’s deep attachment to his homeland, to which he dedicated his life as an artist. Sailors are disembarking at the dock in the port of Pasaia, near San Sebastián, situated close to towering cliffs that form a stunning landscape in the background of our painting.