Berck. Les Dunes Par Gros Temps 1890

Eugène Boudin painted “Berck. Les Dunes Par Gros Temps” with oil on canvas, a traditional combination that he used to capture the essence of the French coast. The visible brushstrokes show Boudin's process, as he built up layers of paint to depict the shifting light and atmospheric conditions over the dunes. He skillfully used the materiality of the oil paint to create a sense of depth, texture and movement, making the viewer feel the blustery weather that is so typical of the region. The visible brushwork also adds a sense of immediacy to the artwork; a sort of raw reality that captures a moment in time. By emphasizing the process of painting and the materiality of his medium, Boudin elevates the mundane into the extraordinary, and highlights the intrinsic beauty of the natural world. It's in these traditional forms of artmaking that Boudin finds his truest expression.