Artwork
Beach at Ebb Tide
Beach at Ebb Tide is an oil painting by the Barbizon school artist Charles François Daubigny. It dates from 1850 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The work depicts a beach scene where the receding water exposes the shore, focusing on the natural interplay between the sea and the land.
Charles-François Daubigny's 1850 oil painting captures a coastal landscape during ebb tide. The work depicts a beach scene where the receding water exposes the shore, focusing on the natural interplay between the sea and the land. As a realist depiction, the subject matter centers on the observable environment rather than allegorical figures or religious narratives.
The iconography is limited to the elements of the seaside: the wet sand, the retreating waves, and the open horizon. This representation reflects the artist's dedication to documenting specific atmospheric conditions and the quiet, unembellished reality of the French coastline.
Technique & Style
Charles-François Daubigny's Beach at Ebb Tide is an oil painting executed on a panel support, completed in 1850. The work measures 35 cm in height and 55 cm in width. As a landscape painting, the composition depicts a beach scene characterized by the receding waters of an ebb tide. The piece is currently held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
History & Provenance
Charles François Daubigny painted 'Beach at Ebb Tide' in 1850. The work was executed in oil paint on panel, measuring 35 by 55 cm. The painting was owned by Maria Catharina barones van Pallandt before entering the collection of the Rijksmuseum, where it remains.
Legacy
Charles François Daubigny's 1850 painting Beach at Ebb Tide entered the Rijksmuseum collection through the ownership of Maria Catharina barones van Pallandt. The work's subtle handling of tidal light and coastal atmosphere influenced Impressionist approaches to plein air landscape, particularly informing Claude Monet's early marine studies. Its restrained palette and focus on naturalistic shoreline conditions established a compositional precedent for later marine painters seeking to capture ephemeral coastal moments.
Overview
Created circa 1850, Beach at Ebb Tide is an oil painting by French landscape artist Charles‑François Daubigny. The work depicts a shoreline at low water, extending toward a muted horizon under a cloudy sky. A solitary figure stands on the wet sand, gazing out over the sea, conveying a quiet, contemplative mood.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Charles-François Daubigny ( DOH-bin-yee, US: DOH-been-YEE, doh-BEEN-yee, French:; 15 February 1817 – 19 February 1878) was a French painter, one of the members of the Barbizon school, and is considered an important precursor of…
