Biography
A precursor of Impressionism, Eugène Boudin established himself as one of the first painters to capture the changing light of the sky and the life of the Normandy coastline. His work, full of delicacy and truth, heralded the pictorial revolution of the late 19th century.
Youth and training
Born in Honfleur on July 12, 1824, Boudin grew up in Le Havre, where he discovered ports, sailors, and changing skies at an early age. While working in a stationery and framing shop, he met artists who awakened his vocation. In 1845, he devoted himself entirely to painting and studied the Flemish and Dutch masters at the Louvre.
Early success and development
From the 1850s onwards, he painted “en plein air”—an innovative approach at the time. He set up his easel on the beaches of Normandy (Trouville, Deauville, Honfleur) to capture the sea light and elegant seaside scenes. He exhibited for the first time at the Paris Salon in 1859.
Artistic maturity
Boudin developed an airy and vibrant style, where each canvas seems to be filled with air and light. Claude Monet, whom he introduced to outdoor painting, recognized him as his master. Corot nicknamed him “the king of skies.” His landscapes of Brittany, Venice, and Flanders confirmed his fame.
Final years and legacy
Settling in Deauville, Boudin continued to paint until his death on August 8, 1898. His work, now preserved in the world’s greatest museums, embodies the transition between realism and impressionism.
Boudin and the Hurtebize Gallery
The Hurtebize Gallery pays tribute to Eugène Boudin for his modernity and his luminous view of nature. By placing light at the center of his art, Boudin paved the way for Monet, Sisley, and the great Impressionist masters—a legacy that the gallery values by celebrating beauty, sensitivity, and the pursuit of pure emotion.
