The over-the-shoulder view into the distance pulls you into the carefree feeling of beauty at the beach.
The painting is one of the Salon works from 1874, but it isn’t a mythological or classical work. Instead, it’s a simple view of a working girl enjoying a quiet moment on a cliff.
Jules Breton was one of the more popular Salon painters, known for his rustic artwork of women, peasants, and laborers. He stood out among his peers, who preferred to portray heroic historical figures and exotic scenes.
You can view “The Cliff” along with 130 other works from Salon and Société Anonyme in “Paris: 1874” at the National Gallery of Art. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime exhibition, so don’t miss your chance to see it before it closes in January.
To learn more about the exhibition and plan your visit, check out the National Gallery of Art’s website.
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