Beach near Etretat c. 1872

Camille Corot, a French painter, captured this scene of the Beach near Etretat with oil on canvas. The seemingly tranquil seascape invites us to consider the changing social landscape of 19th-century France. The figures in the distance hint at the rise of leisure and tourism, as the middle class began to seek recreation in coastal towns like Etretat. Corot, a Barbizon school artist, often depicted rural life and landscapes, but here, we see the intersection of nature and burgeoning modern society. His loose brushwork and focus on light and atmosphere align with the artistic values of the time, emphasizing subjective experience over strict representation. To fully understand this piece, we might delve into the history of French tourism, the development of seaside resorts, and the changing attitudes toward nature and leisure in the 19th century. It serves as a mirror reflecting the evolving social and cultural norms of its era.