Sea, Honfleur dates from July 1896. 1

It was probably painted in Honfleur when Whistler wrote to Rosalind Birnie Philip (1873-1958), 'I have not been able to manage anything in the way of painting ... However, if fine tomorrow, I may bring away a bit of the sea.' 2 On his return, on 21 July Whistler told the London art dealer David Croal Thomson (1855-1930) that he had been away, and could show him 'a little panel.' 3 On the following day he wrote to his friend, the New York art dealer, Edward Guthrie Kennedy (1849-1932) that Brown and Gold: The Curé's Little Class [YMSM 455] and 'the tiny sea bit you brought back are sold "en bloc" this afternoon.' 4 It was in fact sold to D. C. Thomson of the Goupil Gallery, but Whistler's later correspondence with Thomson does not mention a panel that can be associated with this seascape.