Washerwoman near Trouville
c. 1872/1876
Medium
oil on wood
Dimensions
overall: 27.6 × 41.3 cm (10 7/8 × 16 1/4 in.) framed: 46.04 × 60.64 × 8.26 cm (18 1/8 × 23 7/8 × 3 1/4 in.)
Classification
Painting
Department
CF
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Collection of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Mellon
Accession Number
1983.1.15
Art Historical Context
Eugène Boudin's *Washerwoman near Trouville* (c. 1872/1876) captures a serene moment of everyday life along the Normandy coast, a region the artist cherished. Trouville, a bustling seaside resort, frequently inspired Boudin's plein-air sketches, where he depicted beachgoers, fishermen, and laborers under shifting skies. As a pivotal precursor to Impressionism, Boudin emphasized fleeting atmospheric effects—soft light, sea breezes, and subtle color harmonies—foreshadowing the works of his pupil Claude Monet. Painted in oil on a compact wood panel (27.6 × 41.3 cm), this intimate format was idea...
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...