Pines on the Coastline - Henri-Edmond Cross

In Pines on the Coastline, Henri-Edmond Cross depicts the Mediterranean shore as a vibrant harmony of colour and light. Tall, stylised pine trees frame the scene, their forms broken into luminous strokes that contrast with the intense blues of the sea and sky. Rather than modelling depth through shadow, Cross constructs the landscape through carefully balanced colour relationships, giving the painting a radiant, almost musical quality. Painted in oil on canvas around 1896–1897, this work marks an important moment in Cross’s development toward a more expressive Neo-Impressionist style. The bold palette and simplified forms move beyond strict pointillism, anticipating the freedom of later modern movements. Pines on the Coastline is both sun-drenched and contemplative—a celebration of the southern French landscape transformed through colour.