Etaples, Boats in Port 1876

Eugène Boudin created this painting of Etaples harbor with oil on canvas, capturing a slice of French coastal life. Painted in 1871, Boudin’s piece emerges from a period of immense social upheaval in France following the Franco-Prussian War, where issues of national identity were at the fore. Boudin turned to the sea, a consistent theme throughout his career, as a subject of stability. His focus on working-class maritime culture, rather than the bourgeoisie, reflects a shift in artistic interest towards the everyday lives of ordinary people. The visible brushstrokes and the attention to the atmospheric conditions create an immediacy, inviting viewers to experience the scene. Boudin captures more than just boats; he invites us to consider the lives and labor of those connected to the sea, and to reflect on the changing social and political landscape of France at the close of the 19th century.