Artwork
Piață în Balcic
Piață în Balcic is an unspecified painting by Francisc Șirato. It dates from 1936 and is held in the collection of the Colecție particulară - București.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1936 by Romanian painter Francisc Șirato, the work titled “Piață în Balcic” depicts a modest seaside settlement. The composition is part of the collection of the Museum of Ethnography, where it is displayed as an example of interwar landscape painting.
Subject & Meaning
The scene presents a cluster of white houses perched along a rocky shoreline, with a modest church tower rising amid the structures. The sea appears restless, its waves breaking against the coast, while a few scattered trees punctuate the sky. The setting conveys a tranquil yet slightly unsettled atmosphere typical of small fishing villages.
Technique & Style
Șirato employs a loose, gestural brushwork that softens the outlines of buildings and water, lending the picture a hazy, almost impressionistic quality. Areas of thickly applied paint create subtle texture, especially in the foamy surf, suggesting an impasto approach that adds tactile depth to the otherwise airy surface.
History & Provenance
Since its completion, the canvas has remained in public ownership, entering the holdings of the Museum of Ethnography where it contributes to the institution’s representation of Romanian regional life. The work has not been recorded in major private collections, underscoring its role as a cultural artifact rather than a commercial commodity.
Artist & collection
Artist
Francisc Șirato painted quiet scenes of people and places, often with soft light and gentle colors.
