On the Beach 1865

Eugène Boudin created this watercolor, "On the Beach," using paper, pigment, and brush. The visible texture of the paper is integral to the artwork, and this roughness softens the image. Boudin's loose brushstrokes capture a fleeting moment of leisure, yet these materials reflect the social context of his time. Watercolor as a medium allowed Boudin to quickly capture the scene, and make multiple works that were easily sold. This ties into the rise of Impressionism and its focus on everyday life, while also reflecting changing patterns of labor and consumption. The women's dresses, though lightly rendered, hint at the elaborate textiles produced through industrial labor. These fabrics were desired by the emerging middle class. Boudin’s choice of watercolor, combined with his subject matter, democratized art-making, making it more accessible to both artists and audiences. This choice defied traditional hierarchies within the art world, elevating the ephemeral moments of everyday life to subjects worthy of artistic attention. This artwork invites us to consider how materials and making intertwine with broader social and economic shifts.