Apéro au bord du lac. 18.5x27 cm. June 2025.

Apéro au Bord du Lac. June 2025

This original plein-air oil painting was created on the shores of Lac Léman (Lake Geneva), Switzerland, during a summer evening in June 2025. Painted directly outdoors, the work captures the atmosphere of an apéro by the lake, one of the most cherished rituals of life along the Swiss Riviera, where friends gather at the water’s edge to enjoy the final light of the day.

Around Lutry and the Lavaux region, evenings by the lake have a unique character. As the sun begins to set, the surface of Lac Léman reflects changing colours across the water while conversations, glasses and laughter blend into the landscape itself. The lakeside becomes a place of pause, where everyday life slows down and attention shifts toward light, atmosphere and the presence of the moment. (lutry.ch)

On this June evening, the warm reflections of sunset spread across the lake while the surrounding landscape of vineyards, mountains and water softened into luminous tones. Rather than depicting a specific event, the painting explores the feeling of shared time by the lakeshore, where the beauty of Lac Léman becomes part of an ordinary yet unforgettable moment.

Created during a single plein-air painting session, the work preserves the fleeting colours and atmosphere that appear only for a short period before dusk. The changing reflections on the water, the golden light and the sense of calm became the essential elements of the composition.

This painting belongs to my ongoing series dedicated to Lac Léman, Lutry and the landscapes of the canton of Vaud. Each work records a direct encounter with a place, a season and a passing state of light observed in nature.

Original plein-air oil painting by Olga Tacan.

Location: Lac Léman (Lake Geneva), Vaud, Switzerland
Subject: Summer lakeside apéro atmosphere at sunset
Region: Lavaux and the Swiss Riviera
Medium: Oil painting
Date painted: June 2025

 Oil on paper

Plain air painting

Size 18.5 x 27 cm

Size with passé-partout  36 x 46cm 

Date: June 2025

Location: Lutry, Switzerland