In the 1880s, Monet visited the Normandy coast several times. In 1882, he went to the port town of Pourville, where he made this painting. It has an unusual composition – with a broad view of the sea from a steep perspective. The cliffs in the foreground lead the eye directly down to the distant, shimmering water. The ocean fills the entire background, with no visible horizon. The Normandy coastline became a popular tourist region around this time, as can be seen by the many small sailboats in the painting.