Technique

It was thinly and fluidly painted on a panel with a grey ground. The tiny wind-blown figures were painted expressively in grey and black with a small brush. Fine brush strokes define the serried ranks of fishing boats, their masts reflecting on the damp shore. Long strokes of slightly thicker paint in white, grey and yellow ochre were used for the rowing boats in the shallows. The whole effect is very fresh and impressionistic.

Conservation History

There is fine crazing (craquelure) over the surface, particularly in the centre. There is some abrasion and paint loss at the edges, particularly at left and right probably from being inserted into slots in a paint box. and partly from the frame.