Rouen, View from the Queen's Way 1895

Eugène Boudin painted 'Rouen, View from the Queen's Way' with oil on canvas. Notice how Boudin captures a scene where water and sky dominate the composition. The subdued color palette—dominated by grays, blues, and muted greens—evokes a melancholic atmosphere. The painting's structure lies in its subtle contrasts. The verticality of the cathedral spire on the right balances the horizontal expanse of the river, while the textured brushstrokes in the foreground offer a counterpoint to the smoother, more diffused treatment of the sky. Boudin uses light not just to illuminate but to dissolve forms, anticipating the Impressionists' radical experiments with perception. Boudin's work destabilizes traditional landscape painting by focusing on atmospheric effects rather than precise detail. The reflections on the water's surface create a sense of impermanence, challenging our understanding of space and representation. It asks us to look beyond the surface and see the world as a play of light and color.