Creation and Location

The painting was executed during Courbet's visit to Étretat, a coastal town in Normandy, although the specific date mentioned in some sources is 1869, it is generally agreed that the work was created in 1866.

Composition

The painting depicts a tranquil scene with the ocean receded at low tide, leaving two small boats on the shore. The composition is characterized by an immense sky dominating the narrow bands of water and sand, which is unusual for Courbet's marine paintings of this period, as they often featured dramatically crashing waves.

Style and Technique

Calm Sea is painted in the Realism style, which was a hallmark of Courbet's work. Realism, as practiced by Courbet, involved a spontaneous and rough handling of paint to portray the irregularities in nature directly, challenging the conventional academic ideas of art.

Dimensions

The painting measures 54.1 x 63.9 cm (21 5/16 x 25 3/16 inches) and is executed in oil on canvas.

Current Location

The Calm Sea is part of the collection at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., specifically located in the West Building, Main Floor — Gallery 92.