Seascape 

Eugène Boudin made this Seascape using pastels, a medium that allowed him to capture fleeting atmospheric effects with immediacy and precision. Pastels are essentially pure pigment held together with a binder. This lends to their matte finish and the vibrant colors of the artwork. Boudin built up the image through layers of strokes, a technique visible in the textured sky and the subtle gradations of light on the water. The marks are distinct, giving the Seascape an unfinished, sketch-like quality, reflective of the artist's interest in capturing a momentary impression. Boudin's choice of pastels also reflects his desire to break away from the highly finished academic paintings of the time. He sought to capture the transience of nature directly. This was revolutionary. He aligned himself with a more direct, honest form of expression, one that embraced the inherent qualities of the materials and process. By prioritizing immediacy and sensory experience, Boudin elevated pastel from a preparatory tool to a medium capable of conveying profound artistic vision.