Women on the Beach at Berck

1881

Eugène Boudin

Associated Names
Eugène Boudin

Painter, French, 1824 - 1898

This painting depicts a sandy beach under a vast, light blue sky. The horizon is in the center of the painting where the blue sky blends into the blue water. In the center of the painting, a group of women are on the beach, some standing and some seated. The women have light skin and wear clothing in shades of brown, dark blue, and red. They all wear headscarves covering their hair, mostly white except for one that is dark blue. Some of the women carry baskets, while others set them on the sandy ground. In the background, there are faint shapes near the shoreline created by small daubs of paint that suggest other people. The brushstrokes in the painting are thick and visible, especially those that create the shapes of the women. Small details are suggested with dashes and dots of paint instead of being shown clearly.

Media Options

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On View

West Building Main Floor, Gallery 82

Artwork overview

  • Medium

    oil on wood

  • Credit Line

    Ailsa Mellon Bruce Collection

  • Dimensions

    overall: 24.8 x 36.2 cm (9 3/4 x 14 1/4 in.)
    framed: 41.6 x 52.4 x 5.2 cm (16 3/8 x 20 5/8 x 2 1/16 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1970.17.15

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Adolphe A. Tavernier, Paris; (his sale, by Bernheim-Jeune, experts, Paris, 23 March 1903, no. 14). Albert Pontremoli, London; (Pontremoli sale, Christie's, London, 23 June 1906, no. 44); purchased by (Bernheim-Jeune, Paris).[1] (Jacques Lindon, New York); sold 4 February 1947 to Ailsa Mellon Bruce [1901-1969], New York;[2] gift 1970 to NGA.
[1] According to Robert Schmit, Eugène Boudin, 1824-1898, 3 vols., Paris, 1973: 2:no. 1510.
[2] Receipt of sale from Lindon to Mrs. Bruce, dated 4 February 1947, in NGA curatorial files.

Associated Names

Exhibition History

1978

  • Small French Paintings from the Bequest of Ailsa Mellon Bruce, National Gallery of Art, Washington, 1978, unnumbered catalogue.

1989

  • Paintings by Eugène Boudin from the National Gallery of Art, National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., 1989, no cat.

2007

  • Eugène Boudin at the National Gallery of Art, National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., 2007, no cat..

  • Eugène Boudin, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Richmond, 2007-2008, no cat.

2009

  • Loan to display with permanent collection, Academy Art Museum, Easton, Maryland, 2009-2010, no catalogue.

2013

  • Eugène Boudin, Musée Jacquemart-André, Paris, 2013, no. 38, repro.

  • Intimate Impressionism from the National Gallery of Art, Museo dell'Ara Pacis Augustae, Rome (exhibition title in this venue: Impressionist Gems); California Palace of the Legion of Honor, San Francisco; McNay Art Museum, San Antonio; Mitsubishi Ichigokan Museum, Tokyo, Seattle Art Museum, 2013-2016, pl. 14.

Bibliography

1973

  • Schmit, Robert. Eugéne Boudin, 1824-1898. 3 vols. Paris, 1973: 2:no. 1510.

1975

  • European Paintings: An Illustrated Summary Catalogue. National Gallery of Art, Washington, 1975: 42, repro.

1978

  • Small French Paintings from the Bequest of Ailsa Mellon Bruce. Exh. cat. National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., 1978: 12, repro. (continuing exhibition beginning in 1978).

1984

  • Walker, John. National Gallery of Art, Washington. Rev. ed. New York, 1984: 443, no. 443, color repro.

1985

  • European Paintings: An Illustrated Catalogue. National Gallery of Art, Washington, 1985: 62, repro.

Inscriptions

lower left: E. Boudin.81 / Berck

Wikidata ID

Q20188886

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