On the Beach, Sunset
1865
Medium
Oil on wood
Dimensions
15 x 23 in. (38.1 x 58.4 cm)
Classification
Paintings
Department
European Paintings
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Walter H. and Leonore Annenberg Collection, Bequest of Walter H. Annenberg, 2002
Accession Number
2003.20.2
Tags
Art Historical Context
Eugène Boudin's *On the Beach, Sunset (1865) captures a serene moment on the French coast, where elegantly dressed men and women stroll along the sands as the sun dips toward the horizon. Painted in oil on a wooden panel (15 x 23 in.), this intimate work exemplifies Boudin's mastery of plein air painting—working directly from nature outdoors. As a pioneer of modern landscape art, Boudin favored small wood panels for their portability, allowing him to sketch fleeting atmospheric effects with loose, vibrant brushstrokes. A key precursor to Impressionism, Boudin (1824–1898) influenced younger ar...
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...