Woman in a Crinoline on the Beach of Trouville c. 1865

Eugène Boudin captured this scene of fashionable leisure at Trouville, a seaside resort in France, using watercolor and pencil on paper. Boudin was celebrated for his ability to capture the fleeting effects of light and atmosphere, evident in the way he renders the women's dresses and the vast expanse of the beach. The crinoline, the defining fashion of the mid-19th century, was made possible by industrial production. The steel hoops that gave the skirt its shape were mass-produced in factories, making fashionable silhouettes accessible to a wider range of women. Look closely, and you will see how the heavy skirts are contrasted with the fluid application of the watercolor. While seemingly a straightforward depiction of leisure, this artwork reflects the complex interplay of fashion, industry, and social class during the 19th century. It also prompts us to think about the labor involved in producing the materials that made these scenes of leisure possible. By considering the materials and the social context, we gain a deeper understanding of the artwork's meaning.