Albert Marquet (1875–1947) was a French painter best known for his role as a founding member of the Fauvism movement, alongside his lifelong friend Henri Matisse. While he participated in the infamous 1905 Salon d'Automne, Marquet’s style was notably more restrained than his peers, favoring subtle, mixed tones over violent, bright colors. His early work often involved city views of Paris, where he used black for stark, calligraphic contrasts against lighter streets. As his career progressed, he transitioned toward a more naturalistic style, primarily focusing on landscapes.

Marquet traveled extensively, painting the waterfronts of North Africa and European coasts. He developed a unique technique for rendering water as a large area of simple tone, a method often compared to Japanese Shijo style work. Unlike many of his contemporaries, Marquet’s artistic approach remained remarkably consistent, with no major periods of stylistic change throughout his life. He continued to record the subtle effects of light on sea and city views until his sudden death in 1947.