Antibes, the Point of the Islet 

Eugène Boudin captured Antibes and its islet in an oil on canvas where the sea, rocks, and sky converge. The solitary figure standing at the cliff's edge becomes an evocative symbol, a motif resonant with both Romanticism and the ancient archetype of the wanderer. Consider Caspar David Friedrich’s "The Wanderer Above the Sea of Fog," painted some decades earlier: there, the Rückenfigur or 'figure from behind' invites contemplation of the sublime. In Boudin's seascape, this figure carries a similar emotional weight. Such images can be traced further back. Think of classical philosophers gazing out at the Aegean, contemplating existence. This motif evolves, appearing in different guises throughout history, each time reflecting cultural preoccupations. In Boudin’s work, the figure embodies a uniquely modern sensibility—a reflection on nature, solitude, and the transient beauty of the moment. The cyclical nature of symbols invites us to delve into the rich tapestry of human experience.