The Beach at Petit Dalles (aka On the Beach) 1873

Berthe Morisot’s "The Beach at Petit Dalles" shows us a fleeting moment using oil paint on canvas. Her loose brushwork and muted colors aren't just about capturing the scene; they are about expressing a modern, industrial viewpoint. Consider the very fluidity of the paint, mimicking the transience of light and the movement of water. Morisot's technique, alla prima, involved applying wet paint onto wet, unprimed canvas, allowing her to work quickly and spontaneously. The artist has avoided labor intensive techniques, in favor of ease, efficiency and speed. The scene itself is one of leisure, depicting a moment of middle-class tourism made possible by the rise of industrial society. The painting isn't just a pretty picture; it reflects the social and economic changes of the time, with new modes of transportation and production allowing for an increased opportunity for leisure and travel. In the end, Morisot isn’t just painting a beach, she’s showing us the making of modern life, one expressive brushstroke at a time.