Le Havre
1883
Eugène Boudin, often called the 'king of skies,' captures the restless energy of the English Channel in this breezy 1883 seascape. Notice how the massive, billowing clouds dominate the canvas, dwarfing the sailing ships and the puffing steamship below—a signature move for this early Impressionist who believed the sky was the most important part of any landscape. Boudin was actually a mentor to a young Claude Monet, teaching him to paint outdoors and observe how light changes by the minute. You can almost feel the salt spray and hear the creaking masts just by looking at those quick, energetic brushstrokes!
Views: 4