Impressionists by the Sea

'Impressionists by the Sea' is currently on show at the Royal Academy of Arts in Westminster. The exhibition shows a number of seascapes and beach scenes by artists of the 1860s and 1870s such as Monet, Manet, Boudin. Prior to this period, pictures of the sea had focused on the romance of stormy weather, or on picturesque coastal landscapes. However the Impressionists work captivates the ordinary intersections of sky, sea and sand. The sea off France's northern coast offered infinite opportunities for the artists to express there fascination with colour and movement. Many of the paintings are studies of how light glimmers off the sea and sand, whilst others illustrate tourists enjoying themselves, or the work of local fishermen finding a simple beauty in there daily routine. Coming away from the exhibition, I found it interesting how over time an artist’s style of work can change so much in the contemporary beach scene. Skill wise, a much firmer understanding of how light and movement can be used was obtained.