Boats on the Seacoast at Étaples 1871

Charles-François Daubigny painted "Boats on the Seacoast at Étaples" with oil on canvas at an unknown date. His coastal scenes reflected a broader cultural interest in the French landscape, driven by the rise of tourism and a desire to capture the nation’s natural beauty. Here, we see boats resting on the shore at Étaples, a small fishing village in northern France. The muted palette and loose brushwork create a sense of calm, yet also speak to the hardships of maritime life. Daubigny’s style challenged the academic conventions of the time. Eschewing historical or mythological subjects, he focused on contemporary, everyday scenes. This challenged the dominance of the French Academy, which prioritized historical and allegorical paintings. To truly understand Daubigny, historians consult exhibition reviews, artists' journals, and the records of art societies. Through this work, we see how art is deeply embedded in the social and institutional contexts of its time.