Coast Scene

Jacques François Carabain 1834 - 1933

Summary

In this coastal scene by the Belgian painter, Jacques Carabain, fishermen and their families are checking and mending their nets, while children play with a dog nearby. One fisherman talks with a couple who may have come to the beach to trade, or simply to bring food and water in the large panniers carried by their donkeys. A stone jetty with a coastal tower and other fortifications form an impressive backdrop to this lively image of a day in the life of a fishing community. A new fishing boat is being built on a specially constructed frame behind the more distant tower. The bright blue of the sky and water, and the deep russet brickwork are picked out again in the peasants' clothing, integrating the small figures with the landscape that forms their livelihood. The short shadows indicate a time around midday and heat that would be intense without the strong sea breeze. Carabain was born in Amsterdam, where he became a pupil at the Academy. After settling in Antwerp, he became a naturalised Belgian citizen in 1880. Many of his paintings were made on his travels to Italy, Germany, France and Austria. His scenes of everyday life were often set in the open air, with a focus on the depiction of light.