The Beach at Villerville 1864

Eugène Boudin’s *The Beach at Villerville* (1864) depicts a crowd of people gathered on the beach, likely enjoying the cool evening air. Boudin, a pioneer of plein air painting, captures the atmosphere of the scene with his loose brushstrokes and use of light. The sky, painted in soft blues and grays, suggests the end of a long, sunny day. His depiction of the beach, filled with figures in conversation and quiet contemplation, embodies the burgeoning Impressionist style, which focused on capturing the fleeting moments of daily life.