Impressionism, locations
where the ‘impressionists’ did paint:
Le Havre
at the estuary of the Seine
Le Havre introduction:
Le Havre lies at the estuary of the Seine, about 200km west of Paris.
Several painters depicted Le Havre, namely Monet, Boudin, Pissarro and Mulot-Durivage also painted here.
On this page you will find several paintings and when possible with indications of the location.
You will also find some additonal information.
See also a seperate page on Sainte-Adresse.
Note: this page has just been started. Additional info and pictures will be added.
Monet and Le Havre:
When Claude Monet (1840-1926) was five his family moved from Paris to Le Havre. His father, Adolphe Monet, entered the business of his brother-in-law Jacques Lecadre, a ship chandler and grocer. 1857/01/28 his mother died. 1858/09/30 his uncle died. His aunt, Sophie Lecadre, who had no children, would take care of her nephew Claude and supported him in his career as a painter. (R464,p11) The Lecadre family had a weekend house in Sainte-Adresse.
Claude Monet made his first painting done en-plein-air in Rouelles in 1858. He had been stimulated by Boudin to do so. Rouelles now is part of Le Havre, it lies in the north-east part (iR9).
1859/05 Monet left Le Havre for Paris, but he would return several times.
The first time known that he returned and painted here was in 1867 (CR88 +89). Followed in 1868/02 (CR109), 1873 (CR259-264) and 1874 (CR294-297). Much later 1883/01 he returned for a last time to paint (CR815).
Monet would also paint closeby in Honfleur (namely at Saint-Siméon farm), Sainte-Adresse and Étretat.
Pissarro and Le Havre:
In the year that he died Camille Pissarro (1830-1903) stayed in Le Havre at the Hôtel Continental from the 4th of July till the 26th of September.
He made here his last paintings (CCP1504-1527), apart from perhaps one or two exceptions.
Boudin and Le Havre:
Eugène Boudin had been very active in Honfleur and other places. But, it seems he only became active in Le Havre 1885 onwards.
Note: this is just based on the pictures I render on this page. This needs further research.
Regional exhibitions:
In Le Havre there have been several regional exhibitions.
In 1868 at the Exposition Maritime Internationale Monet received a bronze medal, Boudin and Manet received a silver medal.
Often the expositions were organised by the Société des amis des arts du Havre and later also by the Cercle de l’Art moderne.
Musée André Malraux:
Le Havre has the Musée d’Art Moderne André Malraux (=MUMA) (M15). It has beautiful impressionist paintings and also many works of Eugène Boudin.
Bassin du Commerce:
Monet and Boudin depicted some of the bassins of Le Havre.
See link for the location of the Bassin du Commerce (iR9).
See link for the location of the Bassin de l’Eure (iR19)
The Jetty:
The jetty of Le Havre and at the end the lighthouse is depicted by Monet and by Boudin. This was on the former Sémaphore pier which was destroyed in 1904 (R22,no88). This was close to where now the MUMA is (R116III,p908). More to the east lies the Grand Quai.
The Grand Quay and the outer harbour:
The Grand Quay was depicted by Monet and by Mulot-Durivage.
There is a restaurant with the name ‘The Grand Quay’ at the Quai de Southhampton (iR9), which formerly was called the Grand Quai (R116III,p908).
It seems that the buildings depicted are the same as the paintings that depict the outer harbour.
Monet depicted them in CR296 +297 looking east.
The harbour that Monet depicted in CR263 (+264) is the same outer harbour, looking south-east.
Note: Le Havre was heavily destroyed in World War II (iR3), so most of these buildings are now gone.
The Jetty:
The jetty of Le Havre and at the end the lighthouse is depicted by Monet and by Boudin. This was on the former Sémaphore pier which was destroyed in 1904 (R22,no88). This was close to where now the MUMA is (R116III,p908). More to the east lies the Grand Quai.
Ships under repair:
Monet depicted ships under repair in Le Havre (CR260). The location is not known.
Background info:
Claude Monet depicted Le Havre in the following of his paintings: CR88 +89 +109 +259-264 +294-297 +815 (R22IV,p1058).
Sources:
My main sources are the Catalogue Raisonné of Wildenstein (1996=R22).
See links for other general references (=R), for references to internet sites (=iR), for references to musea (=M). For other additional references (=aR) see below. See links for practical hints and abbreviations and for the subscription of the paintings.
Further readings:
x
Additional references (=aRx):
- en.wikipedia.org//Le_Havre (English WikiPedia page on Le Havre; =iR3)
- x
Recommanded citation: “Impressionism, locations where the ‘impressionists’ did paint: Le Havre. Last modified 2026/06/22. https://www.impressionism.nl/le-havre/”
Note: additional info and pictures will follow.