By The Seashore, Joaquin Sorolla y Bastida, Valencia, 1908, oil on canvas, San Diego Museum of Art
Childhood summers at the beach! Memories one can never forget! Year after year my mom would lift me up through the waves of the warm Gulf waters as I giggled hysterically. Those memories are etched in my heart.
By the Seashore presents such a tender rendering of the love between a mother and child. We feel their connection as well as the warmth of the sand and sunlight. We can hear the sound of the rolling waves behind them and feel the motion of the water. Each time I look at this painting I am filled with comforting warmth and love; it is a beautiful reminder of the unshakeable bond and special heartfelt love built on trust between a mother and a child.
Sorolla was a master of light. He painted many seaside scenes. Fans of his work seem to resonate with his paintings of people enjoying their time by the sea. These scenes evoke joy, showing individuals of different ages and genders losing themselves in the moment as they enjoy the simple pleasure the seas has to offer. Sorolla captured the carefree sense we get when we allow ourselves to simply enjoy, let go, and have fun!
Go back through your memories and think of a time when you took a trip to a special location and contentedly lost yourself in the joy of the moment. Maybe you were with a close loved one, sharing the experience with someone similarly to how the mother and child are sharing in this painting. Maybe you were by yourself, feeling a universal connection to everything around you.
Sorolla captures a fleeting moment in time. In By the Seashore he succeeded in keeping alive both a passing moment and the loving energy between a mother and her child.