Seascape 1869

This is a pastel seascape by Edgar Degas, held here at the Musée d'Orsay, Paris. Degas is best known for his scenes of Parisian life, especially his depictions of ballet dancers. So what are we to make of his seascape? Consider how the late 19th century saw a rising interest in travel and leisure among the middle classes. For the Parisian bourgeoisie, the coast became an increasingly popular destination. The visible ships in the painting remind us of trade and travel, but the focus here is on the atmospheric conditions. We can look at other seascapes from the period and read contemporary accounts of the coast to get a better understanding of the social and cultural context. We can then reflect on how the artist's individual vision relates to wider social trends. The role of the art historian is to connect the aesthetic experience with wider historical trends, exploring the politics of imagery and the social conditions of artistic production.