Off the Brighton Coast: Smacks Ashore

This painting, with its coastal scene, bears testimony to the enduring popularity of seascapes in British art. Even the title exclamation of 'Smacks ashore' suggests all the activity of the fishing trade, and refers to the small boats used in ports such as Brighton in the nineteenth century. The cloudy sky adds to the atmosphere and energy of the scene. Very little is known about the artist Arnold Helcke.