The Beach, Étretat 1872

Camille Corot painted this scene of the beach at Étretat in oil paint, sometime in the mid-19th century. It depicts a community dependent on the sea for their livelihoods. We see fishing boats hauled up on the sand, surrounded by figures who are presumably fishermen and their families. Note the cliffs in the background, topped by a small building. The setting is the coast of Normandy in France, a region with a long history of fishing and maritime trade. Consider the social conditions that shape artistic production. Corot was part of a generation of artists who turned away from historical and mythological scenes, preferring to represent everyday life. Étretat was also becoming a popular tourist destination at this time, and the painting perhaps reflects a growing interest in the lives of ordinary people and the French landscape. To better understand Corot's work, we can consult letters, exhibition reviews, and social histories of 19th-century France. Through these resources, we understand the crucial role of art in reflecting social change.