Promenaders on the Beach; verso: Beach scene Possibly 1867

Curator: Eugène Boudin, born in 1824, captured this scene, "Promenaders on the Beach," with what looks like a quick hand. Editor: It feels unfinished, ephemeral. Like a fleeting moment, barely there. What strikes me first is the sheer amount of brown wash used. Curator: Well, brown was a common underpainting color, providing the base for the figures. The umbrellas stand out, don’t they? Little canopies of status, shielding delicate complexions. Editor: Status, yes, but also labor. Someone had to weave those umbrellas, dye the fabric, construct the frames. Think of the social stratification embedded in each parasol. Curator: True, but consider too the beach itself. For centuries, the ocean was seen as dangerous, and now it's a place of leisure. Look at the figures posed against the horizon: a powerful symbol of possibility. Editor: I hadn’t considered the symbolism of the location. I was so focused on the construction of the images. Thank you, that’s a helpful insight. Curator: And thank you, I had not thought about the labor involved!