Le Ramassage du Goémon (Collecting Seaweed), between 1871 and 1886

The Dutch painter Anton Mauve (1838-1888) created several seaside paintings. This canvas may have been created in La Haye, where he lived with his wife from 1871 to 1886.
A man viewed from behind, with his feet in the water, collects seaweed, while his horse and cart wait on the sand. Beyond these elements, the whole painting is practically monochrome, covered with a variety of taupe tones. Only the form of the waves and the slight spray of foam allow for the sky, sea, and sand to be distinguished. The Mauve palette is always delicate and soft with an infinite number of grays, offered by the sand dunes and veiled skies of Holland.
Initially trained in animal painting, Anton Mauve certainly had a gift for landscapes. He largely painted agricultural life and the intimacy of the countryside.