On the Jetty
c. 1869/1870
Medium
oil on wood
Dimensions
overall: 18.4 x 27.4 cm (7 1/4 x 10 13/16 in.) framed: 30.8 x 39.7 x 3.8 cm (12 1/8 x 15 5/8 x 1 1/2 in.)
Classification
Painting
Department
CF
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Ailsa Mellon Bruce Collection
Accession Number
1970.17.13
Art Historical Context
Eugène Boudin *On the Jetty* (c. 1869/1870) captures the fleeting beauty of the Normandy coast, a favorite subject for this French painter called the “king of the skies.” Working in oil on a compact wood—just 18.4 x 27.4 cm—this intimate work reflects Boudin’s pioneering plein-air practice, painting directly from nature to seize atmospheric effects. As a mentor to Claude Monet, Boudin bridged Realism and Impressionism, emphasizing luminous skies, shimmering seas, and leisurely figures over precise details. The small scale and wooden support suggest this was likely a study executed on-site, al...
About the Artist
Eugène Boudin · 1824–1898
Eugène Louis Boudin was born on July 12, 1824, in Honfleur, Normandy, the son of a harbor pilot. When his family relocated to Le Havre, his father opened a stationery and picture-framing shop, and it was there that the young Boudin first encountered working artists. Artists such as Constant Troyon and Jean-François Millet recognized his talent and urged him toward a career in art. In 1850, a munic...