Fishing boat coming in before the wind (The Kearsarge in Boulogne) 1864

Edouard Manet captured this seascape, "Fishing boat coming in before the wind (The Kearsarge in Boulogne)," on canvas with oil. Manet’s choice to depict the Kearsarge in Boulogne carries historical weight. The Kearsarge was a Union warship which famously defeated the Confederate raider Alabama off the coast of Cherbourg in 1864. France, under Napoleon III, had declared neutrality but was sympathetic to the Confederacy, a stance which complicated its relationship with the United States. This painting exists within a narrative of maritime power and international politics, yet it simultaneously offers an intimate glimpse into a specific moment. The rough brushstrokes and muted palette evoke the unpredictable nature of the sea. By choosing this subject, Manet engages with themes of national identity, conflict, and the complex relationships between nations, inviting us to reflect on the human stories behind grand historical narratives.