Squall on the Horizon

Heavy black clouds hang over a low horizon, and in the foreground a greenish wave breaks in white foam. A rocky shore juts out on the left, and the beach is painted in dark tones.

Courbet's seascapes are concentrated in the nine years from 1865 to 1873. During this time he visited the Normandy coast, and during his stay at Etretat in 1869 in particular he produced more seascapes than at any other time in his life. Those listed in the catalogue raisonne alone number about 50.

From a friend's letter, this work is presumed to be one of a series of seascapes made in 1872-73 while he was staying in his hometown, Ornans. At that time Courbet was going through a difficult period: he lost the 1871 elections and was imprisoned at the time of the Paris Commune. The commentary explains that even in landlocked Ornans he was probably able to recreate seascapes thanks to his intensive work at Etretat. The large wave is painted with great weight using a palette knife, and the waves are said to be, along with the series of deer, synonymous with Courbet.