The artwork “At Saint-Valery-sur-Somme” was created by Edgar Degas, a renowned artist of the Impressionism movement. The piece was painted between circa 1896 and 1898 using the oil on canvas medium. As a landscape genre painting, it conveys the subtle interplay of light and color characteristic of Impressionism. The work is part of the collection at the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Depicting a scene at Saint-Valery-sur-Somme, the artwork represents a dusky or early twilight ambiance where outlines are softened and details merge into one another. The subdued palette consists primarily of purples, blues, and pinks, creating a serene and somewhat melancholic atmosphere. Structures within the composition appear to be rural houses, with their forms simplified and assimilated into the environment. Trees and shrubbery are rendered with loose, expressive brushstrokes that suggest their forms and the movement of the air, rather than delineating precise botanical detail. The sky, imbued with softer hues, conveys a sense of calmness and envelopes the scene in an ethereal light. The painting demonstrates Degas’ mastery of color and atmosphere, which transcends beyond his famous depictions of dancers and urban life to include the tranquil settings of the French countryside.
