Maximilien Luce (French, 1858-1941)Ouvriers chargeant une péniche signed 'Luce' (lower left)oil on paper laid down on canvas10 5/8 x 11in (27 x 28cm)注脚LiteratureJean Bouin-Luce, Maximilien Luce: Catalogue raisonné de l'œuvre peint, Vol. 2, Paris, 1986, pg. 217, no. 854.Born in Paris in 1858, Luce began training as a draftsman at an early age, going on to also study the art of engraving, and eventually working as both an illustrator and painter. One of the most informative events of his career was meeting Charles Emile Carolus Duran, another influential French painter, who helped acquaint Luce with many of the important painters of the time, most notably, Camille Pissarro, Georges Seurat, and Paul Signac.One of the prominent themes in Luce's work are the common, every day people. Countless works focus on subjects engrossed in daily, particularly laborious activities. Ouvriers chargeant une péniche is one such example, depicting several workers on a barge by the docks. Luce captures the movement of the four figures in the foreground, as they toil and move a large load onto the boat, while figures in the background give the impression of a busy port area. This a subject that Luce approached many times, resulting in at least several paintings that include a similar arrangement of figures, in beautifully vibrant color palettes.