At the Sea Side

1880

At the Sea Side, 1880. James Tissot (French, 1836–1902). Etching and drypoint; image: 37.9 x 13.7 cm (14 15/16 x 5 3/8 in.); sheet: 39.3 x 22.8 cm (15 1/2 x 9 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Mr. and Mrs. Charles G. Prasse Collection 1974.258 This print is one of several works in which James Tissot represented his lover and frequent model, Kathleen Newton, near a window. Here, the young woman sits on an open sill, looking outward as if caught in a daydream. Although set in Tissot’s London home and featuring props from his studio, the image includes nautical details added by the artist to suggest a coastal location. The invented ship, lighthouse, and expansive sea visible outdoors convey a sense of longing for travel and freedom. The sitter of this print, Kathleen Newton, tragically died of consumption just two years after Tissot's portrait.