Low Tide at Pourville, near Dieppe, 18821882 · Study 1947.196

Context from the museum

This is one of several views Claude Monet painted of Pourville, a fishing village on the north coast of France in Normandy. Pourville featured a boardwalk, a broad beach, and stunning cliffs. According to the artist's correspondence, the village was nothing special, but he was inspired by the landscape: "One could not be any closer to the sea than I am, on the pebbled beach itself and the waves beat at the foot of the house." During the spring of 1882 in Pourville, Monet stayed in a small hotel similar to the dwellings seen at the foot of the cliff to the right in this painting.

Museum description reproduced from its CC0 open-access record. Read the original catalog entry.

A detail to notice

The narrow strokes of black paint along the the edge of the water at the base of the cliff indicate bathers.

Observation supplied by the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Read the dimensions before the image

The selected unframed measurement for Low Tide at Pourville, near Dieppe, 1882 is 81.3 cm wide and 59.9 cm high, equivalent to approximately 32.0 × 23.6 inches. Dividing width by height gives a format ratio of 1.36:1. The rectangular bounding area is 0.49 square meters; it describes the measured footprint, not the amount of paint or the monetary value.

On an illustrative 300 cm wall, the recorded width occupies 27.1% of the span before adding a frame. A centered placement leaves approximately 109.3 cm on each side before adding a frame. These are calculations by Physical Art For Crypto using museum measurements. They are not the museum’s display recommendations.

Questions to bring to your own collection

With Low Tide at Pourville, near Dieppe, 1882 in view, identify one feature you can point to, then distinguish what the museum records from your personal response. Keep its medium, oil on fabric, in your notes when comparing contemporary works.

• Which part of this horizontal composition catches your eye first?
• Would a 81.3 cm width still suit the space after allowing for furniture and a frame?
• What surface detail would you need to see in person or in a close photograph?