Washerwomen on the Beach of Etretat
1894
Medium
oil on wood
Dimensions
overall: 37.2 x 54.9 cm (14 5/8 x 21 5/8 in.) framed: 52 x 69.5 x 5 cm (20 1/2 x 27 3/8 x 1 15/16 in.)
Classification
Painting
Department
CF
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Ailsa Mellon Bruce Collection
Accession Number
1970.17.17
Art Historical Context
Eugène Boudin’s *Washerwomen on the Beach Etretat* (1894) captures a serene moment on the Normandy coast, where humble washerwomen toil against the vast backdrop of Etretat’s dramatic cliffs and sea. Painted late in Boudin’s career, this oil on wood panel—measuring 37.2 x 54.9 cm—exemplifies his lifelong passion for plein air painting, rendering everyday coastal life with luminous skies and flickering light. A pioneer of Impressionism, Boudin (1824–1898) influenced artists like Claude Monet, whom he mentored. His loose brushwork and emphasis on atmosphere over detail prefigure the movement’s ...
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...