The Jetties, Low Tide, Trouville 1896

Eugène Boudin created "The Jetties, Low Tide, Trouville" with oil on canvas, a traditional fine art medium, to depict a scene of maritime activity. Here, Boudin focuses on the inherent qualities of oil paint, its viscosity, and its capacity to capture light and atmosphere. Look at the ways he applied paint in loose, visible brushstrokes, building up layers to create a sense of depth and texture. The painting process involved direct observation and rapid execution, suggesting a concern with capturing the fleeting effects of light on water and sky. This approach reflects the growing interest in plein air painting, working outdoors, which coincided with the availability of commercially produced paints in tubes. The act of painting itself becomes a subject, as Boudin emphasizes the materiality of his medium and the traces of his hand. In doing so, Boudin elevates the status of landscape painting, and highlights the labor involved in artistic creation, challenging traditional hierarchies between academic painting and more informal modes of artistic expression.