Washerwomen on the Beach of Etretat

1894

Eugène Boudin

Associated Names
Eugène Boudin

Artist, French, 1824 - 1898

This painting shows a coastal scene with a rocky tan cliff on the left side extending down to the blue sea. The horizon is in the middle of the painting, with a bright, slightly cloudy blue sky above the sea. On the beach, a chaotic collection of dots and dashes of paint in white, black, blue, red, yellow, and pink indicate a large group of people gathered at the edge of the water. Many of the people appear to have white caps or bonnets on their heads. Behind the group of people, more smears of color suggest bundles on the beach, perhaps piles of cloth. Small gray and white boats drift on the water in the distance. The painting style is loose and expressive, with lines of color overlapping with one another. Details are suggested with dots and dashes of paint instead of being depicted clearly.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    oil on wood

  • Credit Line

    Ailsa Mellon Bruce Collection

  • 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.)

  • Accession Number

    1970.17.17

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Georges Ibos, Paris; (Ibos sale, Hôtel Drouot, Paris, 19 June 1900, no. 11); purchased by (Durand-Ruel, Paris); sold 14 November 1935 to (E.J. van Wisselingh and Co., Amsterdam).[1] M.P. Voûte, Jr., Amsterdam; sold 1937 to (E.J. van Wisselingh and Co., Amsterdam); sold 1937 to (M. Knoedler and Co., New York);[2] sold 12 December 1942 to (Harry MacNeill Bland Galleries, New York);[3] sold 1942 to Ailsa Mellon Bruce [1901-1969], New York; bequest 1970 to NGA.
[1]Letter from Durand-Ruel & Cie dated 20 December 1977 in NGA curatorial files. [2]Letter from E.J. van Wisselingh & Co. dated 3 January 1978 in NGA curatorial files. [3]Letter from M. Knoedler & Co. dated 18 November 1977 in NGA curatorial files.

Associated Names

Exhibition History

1937

  • Tentoonstelling Eugène Boudin, 1824-1898, E.J. van Wisselingh, Amsterdam, 1937, no. 24

1978

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

1989

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

1994

  • Normany and Its Artists Remembered, Nassau County Museum of Art, Rosslyn Harbor, New York, 1994, unnumbered checklist, fig. 7.

2007

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

  • Eugene 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

  • Impressionists at the Waterside: Depicting Urban Resorts: Paris, the Seine, and Normandy, Tokyo Fuji Art Museum; Fukuoka City Museum; The Museum of Kyoto, 2013-2014, no. 69, repro.

2021

  • Monet at Étretat, Seattle Art Museum, Seattle, 2021, unnumbered catalogue, repro.

Bibliography

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: 16, repro. (continuing exhibition beginning in 1978).

1984

  • Walker, John. National Gallery of Art, Washington. Rev. ed. New York, 1984: 443, no. 633, color repro.

1985

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

Inscriptions

lower left: E. Boudin 94; lower right: Etretat.

Wikidata ID

Q20190455

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