The painting shows the mouth of the river Toques with the two jetties either side forming the entrance to the harbour at Trouville. There are several other versions of this subject, including Boudin's three paintings of the same title: 'Beach Scene, Trouville' of about 1860-70, 'Beach Scene, Trouville' of about 1870-4, 'Beach Scene, Trouville' of 1873, and his 'Beach at Trouville'.
Boudin worked directly from nature. He had a deep affection for the sea and almost all his paintings take their subject from the harbours and coastline of the Channel Coast.
