Venice–Seascape at the Giudecca 1895

Eugène Boudin captured the essence of Venice in this seascape, employing oil on canvas to depict the Giudecca. Here, the masts of ships reach towards the heavens, acting as intermediaries between the earthly and the divine, much like the obelisks of ancient Egypt or the steeples of Gothic cathedrals. The composition is dominated by the water, a symbol of fluidity and the subconscious, reflecting the sky above and the city's architecture. This recalls the ancient Greek belief in the interconnectedness of the cosmos and the human psyche. Note how the domes echo the rounded forms of the clouds. Such rounded forms resonate across cultures. Think of the mandalas of Tibetan Buddhism, representing wholeness and the universe. Boudin’s painting also evokes a sense of psychological balance, where the sky mirrors the sea, creating a visual harmony that transcends mere representation. This harmony speaks to our collective unconscious, where archetypes of balance and order reside.