A lifelong friend of painter Raoul Dufy, Othon Friesz (1879 – 1949) was a French artist best known for his work during the first half of his career when he embraced post-impressionism and, briefly, fauvism.
He was born in Le Havre, but after moving to Paris at the end of the 19th century to continue his education, he adopted a new home. It was in Paris where he met Matisse and for a short while between 1905-1907 he became one of the Fauves. His most admired paintings date from that very short period.
In his early career days, Friesz often painted important landmarks of Paris, such as The Seine at Paris, Pont de Grenelle (1901). Realized in an Impressionistic manner, the painting shows Seine at Pont de Grenelle bridge, on a misty evening. The Eiffel tower can be seen in the background, part of its shape hidden by the fog. There is light coming from the boats and the city, a sign that the city is bustling with life.
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