On the Beach, Ogunquit, Maine

Edward Potthast was a popular and successful American painter who was strongly influenced by French Impressionism. Painting outdoors, en plein air, he depicted people enjoying their leisure time activities, often capturing brightly colored, light-filled renderings of groups in Central park and on the beaches of Long Island. This painting is typical of Potthast's work, portraying his interest in heightened color, intense light, and a quick working method.