Harbour View (1916)

Dated 1916, "Harbour View" is an artwork by Gustave De Smet. About the period around 1916: The first decades of the twentieth century were a period of rapid experiment, with Fauvism, Expressionism, Cubism, Futurism, and the first abstract painting appearing within a few years of each other. Dada and Surrealism followed the First World War, the Bauhaus school was founded in 1919, and Art Deco became the fashionable decorative style of the 1920s and 1930s. It is listed in the Abstract collection. The image is in square orientation. Abstract, a short history: It emerged in the early twentieth century, when several artists in Europe and Russia developed non-representational painting during the 1910s. Abstract art moves away from depicting recognisable objects and relies on colour, line, shape, and surface instead.

On onlly.art "Harbour View" is sold as a digital download (Digital JPEG + PDF files, 300 DPI). The files are delivered by email after payment, so nothing is shipped: you print locally, choosing the paper, size, and frame yourself. A square format is flexible and works well on its own or as part of a grid on a gallery wall. Abstract compositions work through rhythm, colour, and form, which makes them especially effective in modern interiors and in spaces that need a strong visual accent without a literal narrative. Before printing, compare the proportions of the file with your frame so that nothing important is cropped. Matte and fine-art papers reduce glare in bright rooms, while glossy papers give stronger contrast and deeper blacks. Hang the print away from direct sunlight, which over the years can fade any printed colour. Choosing a standard frame size and printing to fit it often saves the cost of custom framing.

Dutch, 1877–1943

If you like the visual language of Gustave De Smet, explore more works by the same artist in our collection.