The Jetties, Low Tide, Trouville 1891

Eugène Boudin painted this oil on canvas, titled *The Jetties, Low Tide, Trouville*, to capture a fleeting moment in a port town. Boudin's brushwork is loose, almost gestural, creating a sense of movement and atmosphere. Notice how the creamy, muted tones of the sky blend seamlessly with the sandy beach and the calm waters of the harbor. It's a scene of industry and leisure, with figures strolling along the jetties and boats bobbing in the water. The painting's significance lies in its connection to the rise of tourism and leisure in 19th-century France. Trouville, like many coastal towns, was transforming from a fishing village into a popular resort for the burgeoning middle class. Boudin, who often depicted these scenes of modern life, was attuned to the social and economic changes shaping his world. He captured not just a place, but a moment in time when labor and leisure coexisted on the shores of a changing society.