1880
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
Dominant colour
At the Sea Side is a 1880 by James Tissot, a Impressionism work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.
A woman in a striped dress sits on a windowsill, gazing out at the ocean. Behind her, a room glows with warm light, while outside, waves crash against a rocky shore. This painting blends real life with fantasy. The woman is Tissot’s lover, Kathleen Newton, posed in his London home. But the sea, ship, and lighthouse outside are all made up—added to turn an ordinary moment into something dreamy. It’s like a snapshot of longing, mixing what’s real with what’s imagined. If you like this mix of quiet scenes and hidden stories, look up *James Tissot (French, 1836–1902)*.
This print is one of several works in which James Tissot represented his lover and frequent model, Kathleen Newton, near a window. Here, the young woman sits on an open sill, looking outward as if caught in a daydream. Although set in Tissot’s London home and featuring props from his studio, the image includes nautical details added by the artist to suggest a coastal location. The invented ship, lighthouse, and expansive sea visible outdoors convey a sense of longing for travel and freedom.
The sitter of this print, Kathleen Newton, tragically died of consumption just two years after Tissot's portrait.
Read the full account in the museum source.
Jacques Joseph Tissot (French: ; 15 October 1836 – 8 August 1902), better known as James Tissot (UK: TISS-oh, US: tee-SOH), was a French painter, illustrator, and caricaturist.
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