A painting of atmospheric splendor, the harbor anchorage of Etaples is blanketed with the luminous colors of the departing sunset. Widely respected as a mentor among his peers, Boudin is high among the inspirational sources of the Plein-Air School of painting, and this canvas is from the period in his career when he mastered coastal seascapes under broad skies.
A sweeping panoramic view over Etaples, a northern principle fishing and leisure point of the Normandy Coast. The town has evolved through centuries of conquest and diplomacy, at different times hosting Vikings, Napoleonic troops, World War I Britains and occupying Germans in World War II. Through it all, the people of Etaples fished and survived. In Boudin's lifetime, a major railway junction was established, opening the markets of Paris to the fishing, and most importantly, the north French coast as a vacation destination for Parisians headed to the beach. This superb example shows a range of warm, colorful lights casting heavy shadows amongst the ships in the foreground. This special painting by the artist is a perfect example of why Boudin earned the title "The King of Skies" from his artistic peers.
