This artwork is best classified as Fine Art Conceptual Photography, created through photomontage. While the scene appears realistic at first glance, the intentional construction of elements—particularly the repetition of paper boats arranged before the child—moves the image beyond straightforward photography into a constructed, symbolic visual narrative.
The presence of a child seated at the shoreline introduces themes of innocence, imagination, vulnerability, and anticipation. The paper boats function as metaphors for dreams, journeys, or fragile hopes placed against the vast and indifferent sea. The subdued color palette and overcast sky reinforce a contemplative, slightly melancholic mood, emphasizing emotional depth rather than visual spectacle.
From a stylistic perspective:
The work is not abstract; all elements are recognizable.
It is not documentary, as the scene is clearly staged and concept-driven.
It aligns with surreal and poetic realism, where reality is subtly altered to convey an inner or emotional truth.
Photomontage allows the artist to control symbolism and rhythm within the frame, transforming a simple coastal scene into a narrative image that invites interpretation. The result is a quiet, reflective composition where childhood play becomes a visual metaphor for human longing and uncertainty.