“Regatta at Sainte-Adresse” is an artwork by Claude Monet, created in 1867 using the medium of oil on canvas. It is an exemplary piece of the Impressionist movement, with dimensions measuring 101.6 cm by 75.2 cm. This artwork is a cityscape genre painting and is currently housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, New York, United States.
The artwork depicts a lively scene at the beach resort of Sainte-Adresse, near Le Havre, France. Monet captures the essence of a leisurely summer day where the bourgeoisie enjoy a regatta. Several sailboats with their billowing sails populate the horizon, likely participating in a race or simply taking advantage of the winds. The colors employed are indicative of natural light and reflection, quintessential features of Impressionist painting.
The shore is bustling with activity. Figures of varying ages, dressed in attire typical of the era, are scattered along the beach, some standing and some reclining, watching the events unfold on the water. To the right, the distant shoreline and buildings, including identifiable architectural features, stretch into the background, providing context and depth to the setting, subtly touched by the brushstrokes which give a sense of movement both in the sky and the water. Monet’s signature sits unobtrusively at the lower left, a small testament to the artist’s presence in this serene depiction of modern life and recreation by the sea.
