France is crossed by rivers flowing toward the sea along three coastlines: the gray, windswept beaches of Normandy in the north, the warm, sunlit Mediter ranean shores in the south, and the Atlantic coast in the west. At the country’s center, the Seine River runs through Paris, a vital artery at the heart of the city and a source of inspiration for countless painters who followed its course between the urban and the rural.

With the advent of train travel, France’s coasts became easier to reach, and seaside resorts began to appear between small fishing villages and industrial ports. Normandy’s northern beaches attracted both artists and tourists, while the Mediterranean coast dazzled with its brilliant light and dramatic views stretching from mountains to sea. For artists, water was more than a backdrop: it became a realm of light, color, and sensation. They experimented with ways to capture sunlight shimmering on the surface, waves breaking into spray, and reflections of surrounding landscapes, finding in water an endless source of inspiration.