The Sea at Bognor 1895

Theodore Roussel created this print of 'The Sea at Bognor', using color etching and aquatint. Roussel, a French-born artist who settled in London, was deeply influenced by James McNeill Whistler and the Aesthetic movement. Bognor, a seaside town in West Sussex, became a subject that allowed Roussel to explore his interest in color and tonal harmonies. The late 19th century saw an increasing popularity of coastal towns as leisure destinations, reflecting broader shifts in social life and class structures. Roussel's choice to depict this scene suggests an engagement with contemporary leisure culture. The artwork’s tranquil quality invites viewers into a moment of quiet contemplation, yet it also subtly hints at the social transformations shaping the landscape of leisure and identity during the late 19th century. Roussel captures not just a place, but a moment in time, laden with cultural and personal significance.