Artwork
At the Shore
At the Shore is an unspecified painting by the American Impressionist artist Alfred Maurer. It dates from 1901 and is held in the collection of the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art.
About this work
Overview
Alfred Maurer’s 1901 oil painting *At the Shore* exemplifies his early involvement in American Impressionism. Executed during a period when the artist was active in avant‑garde circles in New York and Europe, the work now resides in the collection of the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art.
Subject & Meaning
The canvas presents a seaside gathering: a young girl in a white dress holds a small object, perhaps a shell, while several adults—a suited man and a woman in a long dress—stand nearby. The figures appear engaged in conversation, gesturing toward an unseen point on the horizon, suggesting a moment of shared observation or leisure.
Technique & Style
Maurer employs a delicate balance of light and shadow to model the figures and convey atmospheric depth. The cloudy sky and distant water are rendered with softened brushwork, while the foreground figures are defined with clearer outlines, creating a layered sense of space typical of Impressionist practice.
History & Provenance
Although Maurer was connected to progressive art groups, his work received little public attention while he lived. *At the Shore* eventually entered the Crystal Bridges Museum’s holdings, where it is displayed as part of the institution’s representation of early twentieth‑century American art.
Artist & collection
Artist
Alfred Henry Maurer (April 21, 1868 – August 4, 1932) was an American modernist painter.
Museum
Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art
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