The shore of Portrieux, north coast 1875

Eugène Boudin painted ‘The shore of Portrieux, north coast’ to capture the essence of a bustling 19th-century harbor, an era marked by significant maritime expansion and trade. Boudin, born in Honfleur, a port town in Normandy, had a unique ability to convey the atmosphere of the sea. In this painting, the convergence of labor, trade, and transport raises questions about the lives intertwined with the sea. Men work on the shore and seagulls fly overhead as sailing ships sit in the harbor, creating a scene of labor and mobility. This movement emphasizes the ships' pivotal role in global exchange. Boudin highlights the interaction between the land, the sea, and the individuals dependent on it, emphasizing the impact of maritime activity on the identity and economy of coastal communities. Boudin once said his goal was to "capture the fleeting beauty of the moment." 'The shore of Portrieux, north coast' encapsulates this sentiment, recording the historical and social conditions of his time.