The 4 P.M. Wave

The 4 P.M. Wave was inspired by a phenomenon familiar to many locals in Nice: the late-afternoon swell that transforms the usually calm Mediterranean into a powerful, rhythmic landscape. I deliberately stripped away most details, reducing the composition to the contrast of the blues, the force of the wave, and the scale of the people against it.

The wave is the hero of the painting, built with a palette knife to communicate its energy and movement. The small figures and their long directional shadows evoke the distinctive 4 p.m. light while emphasizing how small we feel before the sea. Viewed from above—from the Promenade des Anglais or the Colline du Château—people begin to resemble the famous galets themselves, becoming part of the landscape. Each figure embodies a different emotional response to the wave: relaxation, joy, apprehension, wonder, or awe.