Swimming school by the sea, 1974 – oil painting by Alexander Michael

This lively coastal scene captures a group of children taking swimming lessons by the sea. Under a slightly cloudy sky, characters in sun hats and swimsuits line the sandy beach, while brightly coloured boats and umbrellas add red and blue accents. Alexander Michael's loose, textured brushwork conveys the freshness of the sea air and the carefree rhythm of a summer day. Painted in 1974, the work radiates warmth, nostalgia, and the artist's enduring fascination with light and movement by the water. Oil on cardboard. Signed at the bottom left 'AM 74'. Alexander Michael (1939-2024) was a German painter of landscapes, still lifes, and architecture. His paintings can be stylistically attributed to Impressionism or a post-Impressionist style. His loose, confidently applied painting style creates a lively and atmospheric effect with visible brushstrokes and vibrant colours. The light conditions, colour tones, and the artist's subjective perception are characteristic of his works.