Claude Monet’s artwork “The Beach at Sainte-Adresse” was painted in 1867 in Sainte-Adresse, France. It is an example of the Impressionist movement and falls within the landscape genre. This painting can be found at the Art Institute of Chicago in Chicago, Illinois, USA.
The painting depicts a lively seascape at the beach of Sainte-Adresse with a mix of leisure and maritime activity. The foreground shows pebbles on the beach with moored boats, one prominently featuring blue and white colors. A group of figures engages in conversation by the boats, and another is seated, capturing the leisurely mood. The sea extends towards the horizon, dotted with sailboats carrying brown sails, likely fishermen at work, against an expansive sky filled with various tones of white and grey clouds. On the left, the viewer observes the promenade and buildings of the town, adding to the sense of place and local architecture. Monet’s use of loose brushwork, capturing the effects of light and atmosphere, is characteristic of Impressionism, rendering the scene with vibrancy and a sense of movement that reflects the breezy, coastal setting.
