Before the Plunge

Before the Plunge is an original contemporary painting inspired by one of the most familiar rituals of summer on the French Riviera—the quiet pause before diving into the Mediterranean. Suspended between anticipation and movement, the composition captures that fleeting moment when time seems to slow, just before the body meets the water. Inspired by countless mornings and afternoons spent swimming along the coast between Nice, Cap Ferrat and the surrounding Côte d'Azur, the painting explores the emotional experience of the Mediterranean rather than a specific location. The striped swimsuit, brilliant blue sea and simplified graphic forms evoke the timeless elegance of Riviera summers while inviting the viewer to recall their own memories of salt air, warm stone and sunlit water. Created using acrylic, oil and hand-painted collage on canvas, Before the Plunge combines bold geometry, layered textures and vibrant Mediterranean blues into a composition that feels both contemporary and nostalgic. A one-of-a-kind original painting inspired by the French Riviera, it celebrates the simple joy of slowing down, taking a breath, and surrendering to the sea.