Saint-Tropez

In the summer of 1925 Leopold Gottlieb was producing sketches and paintings in Saint-Tropez. Among the extant correspondence with his wife Aurelia, there is a letter written on paper that bears the logo of the Hotel Sube & Continental at which the artist was initially staying [AMF_LG_2024_LL_125].

In the letter, he writes about possible accommodation in the town: “The villa and its situation marvellous. Great comfort. A lovely garden by the sea with palms, cacti, etc. Verandas, balconies overlooking the sea and gardens. The beach just a few steps away, fairy-tale conditions.”

Executed in pencil and watercolour, the sketch depicts a panorama of the town with the characteristic tower of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church. The buildings are simplified in a Cubist-like manner. The palette of the composition consists of warm shades of brown broken with purple shadows and a blue sky. The colours give a perfect reflection of high temperatures in the southern town.