The Cliff (La Falaise)

Jules Breton

National Gallery of Art

This painting shows a young woman lying on her stomach on a brown, rocky surface near the water's edge, looking towards the sea. The woman's bare feet are towards the bottom left corner of the painting, while her head is in the center, resting on her hand. She faces the right, and we see her back and side. She wears a pale green shirt with blue sleeves, a brown skirt, and a white cloth on her head. There is a red cloth on the ground next to her, as well as a pointed wooden stick that appears to be covered in white strips of cloth or feathers. The ground below her on the right is a tan, sandy color, and behind her is the sea, which is painted in vibrant turquoise and green shades, with white lines capping small waves. The sky is light blue with puffy white clouds, and distant landforms are visible in light gray across the water.