Berck, Low Tide 

Eugène Boudin captured this atmospheric scene, “Berck, Low Tide,” with oil on canvas, inviting us into the coastal life of 19th-century France. Boudin, deeply influenced by his own upbringing as the son of a sailor, possessed an intimate knowledge of the sea. But it's not just the boats and the water that tell the story here; it’s the people. Look closely and you’ll notice figures working along the shore, their lives intertwined with the tides. These individuals, often from the working class, found their livelihoods in the maritime economy. Boudin once said, "When I am in front of the sea, I feel united with it." In this painting, there is a powerful connection with the everyday lives of those who lived by the sea. Boudin captured not just a scene, but a way of life, reflecting both the harshness and the beauty inherent in their daily existence.