A pair of oxen stand at the center of the composition, their powerful forms rendered in broad, textured strokes of earthy brown and red against the pale sand of the beach. The sea glimmers in the background, painted in bands of deep blue and turquoise, while the sky above is a luminous, cloudless blue that fills the upper half of the panel. The composition is tightly framed, with the figures and boat pressed close to the picture plane, creating a sense of immediacy and bustling activity.

Sorolla’s brushwork is loose and expressive, with visible strokes and impasto that give the surface a lively, tactile quality, especially in the rendering of sand, hide, and sailcloth. In the far left background, a smaller sailboat with a white sail appears on the horizon, adding depth to the seascape. The paint is applied with rapid, gestural strokes, especially in the depiction of the sand and water, where lines and dabs of color create a sense of shimmering movement.

A figure in a wide-brimmed hat sits astride one of the oxen, leaning forward with an arm outstretched as if guiding the animals. Near the lower right corner, a person in a white garment with red accents bends over, holding a basket or bundle close to the sand. The lower left corner is signed with the artist’s name and the date, rendered in brown paint that blends into the sandy tones.

Sunlight falls strongly from the left, casting shadows beneath the oxen and highlighting the upper surfaces of the animals and figures. The sail of the boat dominates the upper right quadrant, painted in thick, swirling strokes of cream and ochre that catch the light. Loose, gestural lines define the boat and figures, with color blending at the edges, creating a sense of movement and immediacy throughout the scene. The title, Escena De Playa, identifies the setting as a beach, and the presence of the oxen and boat situates the scene within the daily rhythms of coastal life.

Joaquín Sorolla painted this work in 1899, capturing a vivid moment of work and movement by the sea.