The artwork titled “Trouville, the Jettys at Low Tide,” by Eugene Boudin, dated circa 1884, is an embodiment of the Impressionist movement and executed in oil. Originating from France, this landscape genre painting is part of the collection at the E.G. Bührle Foundation in Zürich, Switzerland. It captures the transient effects of light and atmosphere on a coastal scene, characteristic of the Impressionist style.
The artwork portrays a serene coastal environment, presumably during low tide, where water recedes to reveal the sandy bottom. Anchored boats of various sizes populate the scene, with masts rising against the soft blues and whites of the expansive sky. In the foreground, a small boat with figures suggests human activity, while the subdued tones of the wet sand and the reflections in the remaining water convey the calmness of the tidal retreat. Boudin’s loose brushstrokes provide texture to the scene, imparting a sense of movement and the fleeting quality of the moment being observed. The composition, with its horizon placed high, allows for an expansive view of the sky, lending a sense of openness to the work, whilst also directing attention to the interaction between land, sea, and the structures present.
