At the Sea Side

From the Cleveland Museum of Art record

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.