Pleine mer, Les lamaneurs 1887

Eugène Boudin created this evocative oil painting to capture the energetic maritime activity off the coast of France. Boudin was one of the first French artists to paint landscapes outdoors and his attention to detail helped establish Impressionism. We can see how the image creates meaning through the rendering of a variety of vessels, large and small, under a vast expanse of sky, which reflects the maritime culture of France in the 19th century. At the time, France was going through rapid industrialization, and its ports were a hub of economic and cultural exchange. Boudin was committed to representing scenes of modern life and it would have been a progressive move to choose such subjects for his art. Historians researching that era often consult primary sources such as shipping records, trade statistics, and accounts by port workers, to add depth to our understanding of the painting. This helps us understand the social and institutional context in which it was made.