Cattle market at Daoulas, Brittany 1861

Eugène Boudin made this oil on panel painting, Cattle Market at Daoulas, Brittany, sometime in the late 19th century. The painting depicts a bustling scene of rural commerce, capturing a moment in the economic and social life of the Daoulas community. Boudin’s work provides a glimpse into the world of 19th-century Brittany, a region undergoing significant change due to industrialization and urbanization. Looking closely, we can see the architecture and traditional clothing, visual markers of a culture rooted in agriculture and local traditions. These elements reflect the social structure of the time, where rural communities like Daoulas operated with their own customs and economic practices, somewhat removed from the urban centers of France. Boudin, trained in the norms of academic painting, brought the traditions of fine art to bear on the representation of the working classes. Historical research into market records, local histories, and costume studies would give more context to this image. Only then can we understand Boudin’s vision and the place of this provincial town in a rapidly changing world.