By the Sea, by the Sea, by the Beautiful Sea

Dear Joan of Art,
Where can I find different artists' pictures of beaches and things you take to the beach?

Dear Visitor,

Many artists have been inspired by the beach and you can find many terrific examples in the Smithsonian American Art Museum's collections. Some examples include: Beach Scene by William Glackens, Blue Beach by Mary Mullineux, or Scenes of American Life (Beach) by Gertrude Goodrich, which is pictured here.

Beach is one of twenty murals Goodrich and her husband Jerome Snyder designed for the cafeteria of the Social Security building in Washington, D.C. It shows a typical day at the shore, with people sunbathing, swimming, flying kites, and relaxing.

To view more artworks that are inspired by the sand and sea, visit our website: AmericanArt.si.edu.

On the top frame, choose "Search," then click on "Search for Objects in the Collection." In the search box labeled "Search for a Specific Keyword," type "beach" or "sea" or "ocean" or "swimming."

I hope this gives you a start. Enjoy your summer!

Sincerely,
Joan of Art

Pictured: Gertrude Goodrich, born 1914, Scenes of American Life (Beach), 1941–47, oil, 79 3/16 x 165 1/8 in., Smithsonian American Art Museum, Transfer through General Services Administration.