Low Tide 1915

Edward Henry Potthast created this beach scene probably in the late 19th or early 20th century, with oil on canvas. He has a very particular, impressionistic way of representing figures. What I really love here is the paint handling. Look at the foreground, you can see these very creamy strokes of blues and browns and how they build up to create the impression of wet sand and shallow water. Zooming in, I can almost feel the grit of the sand and the cool of the water. Then, you see these kids playing in the distance. They are just a few strokes of color, but Potthast captures their energy and joy so economically. This piece reminds me of other painters of the time, like Bonnard or Vuillard, who were also interested in capturing everyday life with a similar kind of intimacy and immediacy. But, Potthast has a unique way of capturing the light and atmosphere of the beach. It is the kind of painting that invites you to step into a different world, where the world feels more soft and optimistic.