Inspired by Johan Barthold Jongkind (1819-1891) – Beach of Sainte-Adresse (1863) – Watercolour / Black stone – 4,37 x 8,15 inch – SOLD

Andreas wants to surprise Alicia for her fifteenth birthday. They are childhood friends, vacation friends.

Andreas waits eagerly every summer for the two months between the school years. And each time, it’s an identical rediscovery, an identical delight, an identical complicity. And everything comes back for 60 tremendous days. But the thing is, Andreas has grown up. Andreas is fifteen years old. The innocence gradually faded to leave room for a feeling as disturbing as breathtaking. Friendship fades away in favor of something stronger, more intense … love! Andreas has no idea about Alicia’s feelings. But he is not afraid, in a few hours, he will give everything, try his luck. He has no other choice. His crush is too obvious to be hidden any longer. In any case, she would have noticed it sooner or later.

Andreas stands in front of the gate of his friend’s house. He hesitates. He is ten minutes early. It wouldn’t be appropriate to ring now. As he is still thinking, the front door opens and … there she is. Gorgeous in her low-waisted faded jeans and a little red sleeveless top and matching ballet shoes, Alicia approaches Andreas with a beaming smile and throws herself into his arms to snap a kiss on both cheeks. The young boy blushes, making his friend laugh. To make a long story short, Andreas takes the wicker basket in one hand and begins to walk briskly. Alicia has just enough time to catch him by the sleeve of his jacket to slow him down. Finally, she takes his hand and follows.

She has no idea where they are going, just that it’s a picnic. A suprise. She loves surprises. As they carry on, Alicia guesses. Of course, the world’s end beach, where they first met at Sainte-Adresse. She remembers the exact day when she hit him with her shovel because he had destroyed her sand castle. And they never stopped being together ever since.

While Andreas lays the tablecloth, the plates and the different dishes carefully prepared by his little expert hands, Alicia leaves to put her bare feet in the cool water. Soon joined by Andreas, she stares at him deeply, draws near and … their lips are irresistibly attracted to touching and kissing.