Houses by the Seaside 1869

Edgar Degas made this pastel drawing, Houses by the Seaside, in France in the late nineteenth century, a period marked by significant social and economic change, driven by the rise of industrial capitalism. The pastel medium lends itself to capturing fleeting atmospheric effects, and this one is no exception. The scene depicts a coastal landscape, possibly in Normandy, with houses nestled along the shore. The cultural context is significant: coastal regions were becoming increasingly popular destinations for leisure and recreation among the bourgeoisie. Degas was associated with the Impressionist movement, which sought to capture modern life through light, color, and movement. However, unlike some of his contemporaries, Degas was less interested in the pleasures of leisure than in the social dynamics of modern life, especially the experience of women. Art historians draw on a range of documentary sources, including letters, exhibition reviews, and social histories, to better understand the work. The meaning of art is contingent on its social and institutional context.