Cliffs by the Sea at Cézembre, Brittany

Executed en plein air, the drawing features quick, expressive brushstrokes that capture the immediacy of the natural scene, particularly animating the waves. The technique reflects Isabey's practice of sketching directly from nature.

Created during Isabey's time working outdoors in Brittany, the drawing exemplifies his early adoption of en plein air methods, influenced by his travels and exposure to English watercolorists and J.M.W. Turner.

Part of a broader 19th-century shift towards outdoor painting, this work situates Isabey among pioneers of en plein air techniques in France, contrasting with the more traditional studio-based approaches prevalent at the time.

As one of the first French artists to paint en plein air, Isabey's approach, as seen in this drawing, contributed to the evolution of French landscape painting, paving the way for later outdoor painters.