The artwork titled “The beach at Nice,” created by the artist Berthe Morisot in 1882, is an oil on canvas genre painting belonging to the Impressionism art movement. Presently, this artwork is part of a private collection. As a quintessential example of Impressionist art, the painting captures a fleeting moment of everyday life with a candid and spontaneous approach that is characteristic of the movement.
The artwork portrays a seemingly casual beach scene with soft, loose brushwork and a bright palette that suggests the play of sunlight. In the foreground, a figure sits on the beach, rendered with quick, expressive strokes that create a sense of immediacy. Another figure stands near a chair, turned away from the viewer, gazing out towards the sea. In the background, we see the undistinct forms of buildings and structures that suggest a populated seaside town, with a pier extending into the calm waters. The precise location on the beach is not distinctly detailed, leaving much to the imagination. The painting exudes an atmosphere of leisure and relaxation, common themes found within the genre paintings of the Impressionist era. The approach to composition, light, and color demonstrates Morisot’s skill and place as one of the prominent figures in the Impressionist movement.
