Cart on the Beach at Etretat 1862

Johan Barthold Jongkind's "Cart on the Beach at Etretat" (1862) is a watercolor depicting a horse-drawn cart on a sandy beach. The hazy, atmospheric scene captures the light and color of the French coast, characteristic of Jongkind's style, known for its loose brushstrokes and focus on capturing the fleeting effects of light and weather. The simple composition emphasizes the vastness of the beach, with the figures in the distance appearing small and insignificant against the expansive landscape. This artwork exemplifies Jongkind's contribution to the development of Impressionism, a style that emerged in the late 19th century and focused on capturing the immediacy of visual perception.