On the Dutch Coast

This work is very simialr in composition to, and possibly a sketch for the oil painting 'Marine (retour de la peche) also by Mesdag. Mesdag was born in the north of Holland and was the sun of a succesful stockbroker and banker. He became a painter of seascapes and this subject matter would form the basis of his oeuvre for most of his career. His work was direct and realistic.