Children Playing on a Beach-Mary Cassat

There are two girls sitting on the beach concentrating on building sandcastles. One of the girls has a hat with a red ribbon. The ocean and a couple of boats blend into the background. Your eyes go straight to the two girls then to the hat and bow. The brush strokes curve around the girls, which makes them appear solid. The focus is always on the children.

I think the artist was trying to capture the innocence of children. I like this piece because the colors flow very well together. I feel it’s a successful work of art because innocence is captured in the way the children are so focused on what they are doing and the way their chubby little hands are painted holding the shovel and pail the same way real children would do.