Painted from the second floor of a hotel on the corner of Port-Said Square (formerly known as Bresson Square during Albert Marquet’s stay as it was still under French rule), Long-courriers à quai offers a broad view of the bustling port of Algiers.

From the age of fifteen, Albert Marquet attended the École des Arts Decoratifs in Paris before studying under Gustave Moreau at the École des Beaux-Art. His favourite subjects were ports, bridges, and quays, subjects he returned to again and again during his many travels. From 1923 to 1945, the artist spent considerable time in Algiers, with the port and city inspiring many of his paintings.