Walk on the Beach (1909)

This oil on canvas painting portrays two women walking on a beach in Valencia.

The focal point of the work is the light. In fact, the author, Joaquín Sorolla, was called the painter of the light because he was able to capture this element in every painting he created.

The two central figures represent his loved wife in the left and his older daughter in the right. Both of them have on a pair of white and sheer dresses, which create a perfect atmosphere of light. The wife wears a wide-brimmed sun hat with a beautiful tulle waving in the wind, and an opened umbrella on her left hand. We appreciate that both objects are playing with the breeze, one of the artist's pursuits. Besides, it is shown us the amazing well-painted shadows of them. Not only the one over the white dress but the dark on her face. The younger woman has a similar position, walking over the sand and against the wind. She carries her hat on the right hand, letting us to be aware of her lost look as she was inmersed within her thoughts.

On the background a piece of clear and peaceful sea comes and goes until the shadows of the women over the sand. However, all we can admire is the portrait of his so much loved wife Clotilde and his daughter María Clotilde bathed by the light and covered by fresh and lively air.

As I said before, Joaquín Sorolla was known by the light on his works. He exhibited on his canvas this play of light and shadows making us fell that we are into the picture.