The Calm Sea
The Met
Artist: Gustave Courbet(French, Ornans 1819–1877 La Tour-de-Peilz)
Date: 1869
Department: European Paintings
Classification: Paintings
Medium: Oil on canvas
Dimensions: 23 1/2 x 28 3/4 in. (59.7 x 73 cm)
Credit Line: H. O. Havemeyer Collection, Bequest of Mrs. H. O. Havemeyer, 1929
Visual Descriptions
AI GeneratedVisual Summary
Brief Description
A cloudy sky over a calm sea and sandy beach with two boats on the shore
Detailed Description
A vast sky fills the upper two-thirds of the canvas with large, billowy clouds. The clouds are rendered in shades of white, light gray, and hints of pale blue, creating an overcast appearance. Below the sky, a calm sea stretches across the middle of the composition, marked by a distinct horizon line. The water is a greenish-blue, with subtle variations in color that appear as gentle ripples or shallow areas near the shore. In the distance, on the water, two small sailboats with white sails are faintly visible. The bottom third of the painting shows a sandy beach, rendered in light brown and tan tones, with darker patches that appear as wet sand or shadows. Two small, dark-hulled fishing boats rest on the sand; one is positioned closer to the viewer on the left, and the other is further back on the right.
Generated by gemini-2.5-flash
