Beach at Low Tide (Mouth of the River)

Beach at Low Tide (Mouth of the River) by Edgar Degas French, 1834–1917, is a luminous drawing created in 1869. While Degas is primarily renowned for his dynamic portrayals of urban life and interior scenes, this piece captures a rare atmospheric coastal view, focusing on the intersection where the river meets the sea at low tide. This subject matter reflects the interest among mid-nineteenth-century artists in capturing transitory, open-air environments.

The medium is pastel, applied delicately to light brown wove paper. Degas skillfully utilizes the paper’s inherent texture, allowing its warm, neutral tone to act as a ground and unify the composition. He builds up subtle layers of pale blues, ochres, and whites to suggest the wet, reflective surfaces of the sand flats and the soft, diffused light of an overcast sky. This sophisticated handling of pastel elevates the work beyond a sketch, positioning it as a finished piece that explores color and light with the same rigorous commitment as his oil paintings.

Dating from a period just prior to the full emergence of Impressionism, this drawing offers valuable insight into Degas's early experimentation with landscape and his mastery of draftsmanship. The choice of pastel, a medium favored for its speed and ability to render fugitive effects, demonstrates the artist’s versatility. The work is held in the distinguished collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, where it serves as a significant example of 19th-century French fine art. The ongoing appeal of works by Degas ensures that high-quality prints of this subtle coastal scene remain available for art historians and collectors worldwide.