A lively Oil on Canvas painting showing of a gathering on a Normandy Beach with the fabled changing cabins on the side by French painter André Borrel.

Born in Paris in 1912, he was a self-taught painter who drew inspiration from the “father of Impressionism,” Eugène Boudin.
He began exhibiting his works at the *Salon des Artistes Français* in Paris as early as 1946, and later at the ‘Salon d’Automne’.

Deeply inspired by Eugène Boudin, he painted scenes of the Norman coast, sometimes featuring ships.
However, his favorite subject remained scenes of Norman beaches bustling with elegant ladies dressed in ‘Belle Époque’ attire.
His paintings are generally very lively and imbued with realism, featuring shimmering colors.

Once again, Borrel offers us a visual record of the fashionable social gatherings that took place on the beaches of Normandy during the 19th century.
In that era, the bourgeoisie flocked to the beaches just as they would to the racecourse or a private salon.
The women—always elegantly dressed and shielded by hats and parasols—could display outfits distinct from those worn at evening soirées, thereby showcasing the full extent of their wardrobes.

A few sailboats race in the distance beneath a relatively bright sky, traversed by numerous clouds.
To the right, several beach cabins provide the few swimmers present with a private space to change.
The cream, faded blue, and beige tones of the sky—along with the ochers of the beach—seem to suggest subdued sunlight.
Nevertheless, the dresses and parasols enliven the canvas with their vivid hues, creating the dynamic energy of the scene.

This beautiful work by Borrel is exquisitely executed, featuring an astonishing fineness of detail that lends the painting its unique charm.
Oil on canvas, signed in the lower left corner, presented in a gilded wooden frame.

Unframed: 7 ½ x 13 inches
Framed: 15 x 20 inches