High Tide at Trouville 1894

Eugène Boudin’s ‘High Tide at Trouville’ captures a seascape with oil on canvas. The painting is dominated by an interplay of grey and white tones, structuring the sky and water. Darker hues of blue and purple add depth, suggesting a turbulent atmosphere. Boudin was deeply interested in capturing the transient effects of light and weather, reflecting a shift towards impressionism. The composition is carefully arranged. The horizon line divides the canvas, with the sky occupying the upper portion, mirroring the water below. The artist's brushstrokes are loose and expressive, dissolving solid forms into atmospheric effects. This technique anticipates later developments in abstract painting, where form becomes secondary to the act of painting itself. Ultimately, this painting stands as a study of light and atmosphere, where the visible world is transformed into a field of chromatic sensations. The work highlights the evolving relationship between representation and abstraction in 19th-century art.