Beach Scene (Scène de plage; initially titled Bains de mer; Petite fille peignée par sa bonne)
Oil painting on paper mounted on canvas in three horizontal strips • Edgar Degas (French, 1834-1917)
Style & Movement
Impressionism (specifically the early phase where Degas explored modern life subjects with a focus on interiority and unusual composition)
Medium & Technique
Oil on paper, characterized by a smooth, matte finish and subtle brushwork with some use of the essence (peinture à l'essence) technique.
Creation Period
Circa 1869-1870
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 47.5 x 82.9 cm (18.7 x 32.6 in); landscape format.
Subject Description
A maid combs the hair of a young girl reclining on a beach at Boulogne-sur-Mer. The composition is notable for its 'zoomed-in' foreground figures, flat perspective, and a background populated with smaller, disparate vignettes of beachgoers and sailboats. The scene captures a private, domestic moment in a public setting.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Excellent; maintained within a museum collection environment.
Estimated Market Value
$40,000,000 - $60,000,000 (estimated based on its rarity as a major Degas landscape-beach work in private terms)
Auction Estimate
$35,000,000 - $55,000,000
Provenance History
Purchased from the artist by Henri Rouart (1870s); Rouart sale (Paris, 1912) to the National Gallery, London, via Agnew's.
Art Historical Significance
Highly significant as one of Degas's few beach scenes. It demonstrates his interest in Japanese prints (Ukiyo-e) through the tilted perspective and the way figures are cut off or placed non-linearly across the space. It marks a transition toward the observation of modern leisure.
Notable Features
The signature 'Degas' is visible in the lower right corner. The painting is famous for being composed in the studio based on sketches rather than painted 'en plein air', as evidenced by the studio-like lighting on the foreground figures which contradicts the outdoor setting.
Condition Issues
The work was painted on three separate strips of paper joined together, which is visible upon close inspection but is an original characteristic of the artist's process, not damage. Minor age-related darkening of the paper support.
Conservation Recommendations
Requires UV-filtered lighting and stable climate control (50% RH). Professional inspection of the paper-to-canvas bond periodically.