Berck; le retour des barques 1890

Eugène Boudin captured this coastal scene with oil on canvas, a medium that allowed him to blend and layer colors to achieve the atmospheric effects he was after. Boudin was particularly interested in capturing the transient effects of light and weather; you can see how the overcast sky dominates the composition, casting a muted glow over the boats and figures on the beach. The strokes of the brush are loose and visible, suggesting the textures of sand, water, and the rough hulls of the fishing boats. The focus wasn't on precise detail, but rather on the overall impression of the scene. Boudin's paintings celebrated everyday life and labor, representing a shift from traditional academic subjects towards more democratic themes. He found beauty in the working world, in the rhythms of the sea, and the lives of ordinary people, challenging the hierarchies that separated art from life.