Seaside, Port of Honfleur c. 1860

Eugène Boudin's "Seaside, Port of Honfleur" (c. 1860) is a pastel drawing capturing the light and atmosphere of a coastal scene. Boudin, known as the "painter of the sea," was a pioneer of Impressionism. His use of loose brushstrokes and vivid colors, particularly in the portrayal of the sky, anticipates the Impressionist style that would dominate later 19th-century art. The dynamic interplay of light and shadow evokes the fleeting beauty of the seaside, highlighting the impact of the natural world on human experience. This artwork showcases the artist's fascination with capturing the transient moments of light and atmosphere, a key element of Impressionism.