José NICOLAS (1956) - Lot 366

José NICOLAS (1956) Calanques de Sormiou, 2017 Silver print On the back, author's stamp, signed, dated, titled, located, numbered 2/8 Dimensions including margins : 30 x 40 cm Image size : 22 x 22 cm Note: In this photograph of the Calanques de Sormiou, José Nicolas captures a lively summer scene of bathers, strollers and Mediterranean landscapes. The composition is organized in depth, from the foreground of pebbles to the sea and tree-lined cliffs, creating a balance between human presence and natural setting. The image shows a multitude of simple gestures - swimming, resting, chatting - that reflect a collective, almost timeless life. The photographer adopts a documentary approach, attentive to the interactions and density of the scene, without hierarchizing the subjects. Black and white softens the touristic aspect to privilege forms, rhythms and light. He gives this contemporary scene a universal dimension, inscribing the moment in an ongoing look at popular leisure activities.