By the Sea 1957

Richard Pousette-Dart created ‘By the Sea’ using an abstract style marked by complex layering and rich textures. The painting's title invites us to imagine a marine environment. Yet, the composition consists of shapes and lines floating against a neutral background. Pousette-Dart, alongside other abstract expressionists, worked during a time of significant social change following World War II. They looked inward, attempting to express the subconscious. What does it mean for abstraction to evoke nature? Perhaps this title reflects a longing for connection and harmony. Pousette-Dart stated that his works were about "oneness... the relationship of one to another." He develops alternative narratives through shapes and their arrangements, inviting us to emotionally connect with this 'seascape.' The artwork, therefore, goes beyond mere representation, becoming a reflection on identity, existence, and our place in the world.