Bordeaux, Bacalan, View from the Quay 

Eugène Boudin likely painted this view of the Bacalan docks in Bordeaux en plein air, using oil paints and brushes. The visible brushstrokes on the canvas create a sense of immediacy, as if we are standing alongside him, breathing the salty air. Boudin was celebrated as a master of skies, but notice too how he captured the industrial energy of the port. The textures of the ships, the rough quayside, and the figures engaged in labor all speak to the bustling maritime economy. Consider the relationship between the artist and the scene: Boudin wasn't just representing the view. He was actively participating in the world of labor and commerce, transforming it through his craft. By choosing this subject, he elevated the everyday life of the working class, and the significance of the docks as a locus of local and international trade, challenging traditional notions of what was worthy of artistic representation.