This painting, “Surf, Summer Afternoon, Ogunquit” (1936) by Charles Walter Simpson, beautifully captures the rugged Maine coastline bathed in the golden light of summer. Executed in oil on canvas, it features a dramatic seaside composition with waves crashing against a steep rock face that dominates the right side of the canvas. The artist’s fluid, confident brushstrokes convey the constant motion of the surf and the misty energy of sea spray under bright sunlight.

Simpson employs a luminous palette of blues, violets, and ochres, blending cool marine tones with warm highlights on the rocks. The interplay between light and shadow reflects his keen sensitivity to atmosphere and movement, characteristic of his plein-air approach. The painting’s composition draws the viewer’s eye from the dark, angular cliff toward the open, sunlit horizon, evoking both the power and serenity of the Atlantic coast.

Signed and dated “Charles W. Simpson 1936” in the lower left, this work exemplifies Simpson’s mastery of coastal subjects—particularly those painted around Ogunquit, Maine, where he spent time during the 1930s. The painting captures not only a specific moment in nature but also a distinctly North American impressionist sensibility, balancing structure with spontaneity and atmosphere.