La Marée Montante (Baie de Saint-Valéry) (The Rising Tide, Bay of Saint-Valéry) by Eugène Boudin (1888)
Description:
"La Marée Montante (Baie de Saint-Valéry)" (The Rising Tide, Bay of Saint-Valéry), painted by Eugène Boudin in 1888, is a captivating representation of the natural beauty and atmospheric changes along the bay of Saint-Valéry-sur-Somme in the Picardy region of France. Eugène Boudin, born in 1824 in Honfleur, France, is celebrated as a pioneer of plein air painting and is considered a forerunner to the Impressionist movement. Boudin had a profound fascination with the sea, the sky, and the coastal landscapes of northern France, where he dedicated much of his work to capturing the fleeting effects of light and weather on these environments.
In "La Marée Montante (Baie de Saint-Valéry)," Boudin depicts the scene as the tide begins to rise in the bay. The painting captures the gentle, rhythmic motion of the water encroaching upon the shore, with boats gently rocking on the water and figures moving along the edge of the bay. The soft, muted tones of blues, grays, and greens convey a sense of calm and harmony, while Boudin’s delicate brushwork captures the reflections of light on the water’s surface and the changing sky above. His ability to render the subtleties of the rising tide and the interaction between water and light showcases his mastery in plein air techniques, making the scene both realistic and evocative of the tranquil beauty of the French coast.
Details:
-
Location and Date Created: Saint-Valéry-sur-Somme, France, 1888.
-
Medium: Oil on canvas.
-
Full Artwork Name: La Marée Montante (Baie de Saint-Valéry) (The Rising Tide, Bay of Saint-Valéry) by Eugène Boudin.
-
Artwork Style: Early Impressionism; plein air painting.
-
Subject/Topic: A depiction of the rising tide in the bay of Saint-Valéry-sur-Somme, capturing the atmospheric effects of light and the natural beauty of the coastal environment.