Theo von Brockhusen was a frequent visitor to the Belgian North Sea coast between 1906 and 1909. Inspired by the colours and brushwork in works by Vincent van Gogh (1853–1890), he painted his summer beach scenes outdoors. Colourful bathing costumes flutter in the wind over shimmering sands and under a blue sky. The bathing machines were used as mobile changing booths.
From 1904 von Brockhusen lived in Berlin. In 1906 he joined the Berlin Secession and from then on he regularly exhibited with Paul Cassirer. The artist co-founded the Free Secession in late 1913 and was active on its committee, serving as its president from 1918 to 1919.