Boudin, Eugène

 

 

Impressionism: partaker of the 1st ‘impressionist’ exposition

Eugène Boudin

(1824-1898)

Between Pre-Impressionism and Impressionism

 

Was Eugène Boudin an Impressionist?
Eugène Boudin only exhibited at the 1st ‘impressionist’ exposition in 1874. In that sense you can say, that he was a side-figure in the ‘impressionist’ art-movement. But, he was an important inspirator for Monet. They stayed friends throughout the years. But Boudin, had not many contacts with other ‘impressionists’. Most of his contacts were with pre-Impressionists, like the Barbizon painters and also regional painters, like Dubourg.
When we look at his painting style, we see that Boudin painted en-plein-air. He tried to render the impression of the atmosperical circumstances and the influence of the light, though mostly he doesn’t mention this in the title of his paintings. But, when we look at his use of colours, we see that Boudin often used subdued colours and many grays and browns (R161,p64). He hardly used juxtaposed brushstrokes, nor blues and purples for the shades. In this sense Boudin just partly used an impressionist painting style. So, Boudin his painting style was somewhere between Pre-Impressionism and Impressionism.

 

 

 

Eugène Boudin only joined the 1st ‘impressionist’ exposition:
At the 1st ‘impressionist’ exposition in 1874 Boudin showed 13 works, including 4 watercolours and 6 pastels (catalogue numbers 17-24).
Boudin is (shortly) reviewed in 15 articles. None of the art-critics described the exhibited works (R90II,p3). This makes it very hard to identify the art-works. Only De Montifaud mentioned some titles. Mostly Boudin is summed up in lists of (marine) paintings. Castagnary (1874/04/29) wrote that Boudin has commanded respect for years and his works are fought over at very high prices. D’Hervilly wrote that Boudin showed ’the fine flower of his research and daring talent’. Carjat reviewed ’this poet of the sea, who faithfully captures the different aspects of the Brittany and Normandy coasts.’
Some critics find his works more suitable for the Salon than for this ‘impressionist’ exposition, see Silvestre (1874/04/22), Cardon (1874/04/29 and as E.C. 1874/04), Castagnary (1874/04/29), Chesnau (1874/05/07).
See links for his pictures and an account.

Eugène(- Louis) Boudin at the Salon and other exhibitions:
In 1859 Boudin made his debut at the Salon, which gave him some succes. In 1861 Boudin was refused* (R318,p200). In 1863 he showed a painting that was not in the catalogue (R318,p200;R1,p84). From 1864-79 Boudin exhibited yearly at the Salon. After 1874 a big succes at the Salon (R3). From 1880-89 Boudin exhibited yearly at the Salon des Sociéte des Artistes Français (=SdAF). From 1890-97 Boudin exhibited at the Société National des Beaux-Arts (=SNBA) except in 1896.
Note*: Selz writes he didn’t exhibit (R161,p24).

Works of Boudin were exhibited at the Exposition Universelle . In 1889 at the Oeuvres d’Art (2x) and at the Centennial exhibitions in 1889 (3x) and posthumously in 1900 (3x).
Note*: 1867: Selz claims that Boudin took part at the Exposition Universelle in 1867 and enjoyed a certain amount of success (R161,p54). But, this is not confirmed by Laurent Manoeuvre (R318,p202), nor by the catalogue (R231-8), so I assume this is incorrect.

Boudin exhibited at several regional exhibitions, namely in Le Havre: In 1845 in Limoges (1 drawing; no.29); 1850 in Le Havre (2 were sold); 1851 in Rouen (3x); 1852 in Le Havre (11x); 1853 in Le Havre (9x), Bordeaux (2x + 1x), Marseille (1x), Grenoble (1x), Rouen (2x); 1856 in Rouen (4x) and le Havre (8x); 1858 Le Havre (11x); 1861 Bourdeaux (3x); 1864 in Toulouse (2x); 1865 in Toulouse (2x); 1866 in Lille (2x); 1867 in Versailles (2x), Carcassonne (1x) and Lyon; 1868 in Pau (2 beach scenes), in Amiens (1x), in Le Havre (5x; Exposition Maritime; Boudin received a silver medal), Strasbourg (1x), Bordeaux (1x); 1869 in Pau and Roubaix (2x); 1870 in Besançon (1x); 1877 in Marseille (2x); 1883 in Mulhouse (2x); 1885 in Le Havre (2 washerwomen) + Toulouse (1x); 1887 in Le Havre (2 including CR1414); 1888 in Le Havre (1x); 1899 in Toulouse (2x); 1890 in Bordeaux (2x), in Le Havre (3x); 1892 in Nantes (1x), in Bordeaux (2x); 1896 Le Havre (1x?).

There have been some solo exhibitions organises by Durand-Ruel↓: 1883/02/01; 1889/07/08 (iR40,bpt6k3260963=aR16); 1890/05 in Boston; 1890/12; 1891/03; 1898/12 posthumously in New York.
1899/01/09 – 30 there was a major (posthumous) retrospective at the École National des Beaux-Arts with 457 art-works (337-1=336 paintings; 72+1=73 pastels; 17 watercolours). The exposition was held under the auspices of many artists including Lebourg, Monet and J.F. Raffaëlli. (aR10).
Also in 1899 in Honfleur 30 paintings and several drawings shown of Boudin (iR1).
In 1931 there was a retrospective at the Salon d’Automne (iR23).
Durand-Ruel↓ also included works of Boudin in group exhibitions: 1886 (New York); 1888; 1891/06; 1905 (posthumously) in London.

Boudin also tried to sell his art-works at auctions (sometimes together with other artists).
First namely in Le Havre: 1857/05/28 (sold 20 of 30 paintings for 2.685-/-647fr; an average of 102fr.); 1861/01/10 (15 paintings for 677,40-/-154fr); 1862/04/17; 1863/07/02; 1879/07/02 (sold 4 of 14 paintings).
And also at Caen 1862/06/24 (it was a fiasco).
Later namely at Hôtel Drouot (=HD): HD1868/03/25 (40 paintings and about 100 pastels + aquarelles; it was quite successfull); HD1877/02/28; HD1878/01/23 (34.950fr; note: a very high amount which is not affirmed by the revenues of that year); HD1879/02+03(?) (38 paintings, 20 aquarelles and 12 drawings; 6.000fr); HD1888/04/19 (with 61 (quite small) paintings, 30 pastels + 11 watercolours; aR11).
1899/03/20+21: Posthumously there was al large auction at Hôtel Drouot of the contents of Boudin’s studio, including 125 paintings, 101 watercolours and 57 pastels and drawings; and works of other artists (cat.no.282-289); foreword by Arsène Alexandre (aR12=iR19;iR65;R161).
In 1880 Boudin sold a painting for the large amount of 900fr (R161,p70).

See link for his exhibited pictures. See link for an account.
Sources: iR1;R231;R318,p199-216;R161,p10+11+18+20+54+55+69+70+73+79+92; R51,p17+20;R22I,p70;R1,p84;R3;iR3;iR22;iR23;iR65;aR1;aR11=iR19.

Eugène Boudin was an awarded artist:
Boudin was awarded in 1881 with a 3rd class medal and in 1883 with a 2nd class medal at the Salon. He exhibited hors concours from 1885 till 1889.
At the Exposition Universelle of 1889 Boudin received a golden medal.
In 1889 and (posthmously) in 1900 Boudin was honoured to be included in the Centennial exhibitions alongside the Exposition Universelle.
After his death 1898/08/08 he was honoured with a large exhibition at the École des Beaux-Arts 1899/01/09 – 30 (aR10) and with a smaller one in Honfleur (1899).

1892/11/02 Boudin was appointed Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur by Puvis de Chavannes (this was decided 1892/07/19) (R318,p212).
In 1881 he received an official commission for two views of the harbour of Dieppe.
Boudin sold various paintings to the State, mainly those he first had shown at the Salon: in 1884 +1886 +1888 +1892.
Boudin also sold works to local municipalities. In 1860 he sold ‘Le pardon…’ (S1859-330) to the municipality of Le Havre for 500fr (M15).
Sources: R231;R337;iR1;R318,p199-216;R161,p81;R74;R122;iR3;iR22;iR24.

 

Eugène Boudin as a pupil:
Boudin received 1851/02/06 from the town council of Le Havre a scholarship, receiving 300fr a trimester for 3 years study at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris. (More than once he sends part of this sum to his mother). 1851/07/24 he subscribes as Émile Boudin as a copiest in the Louvre, mentioning Louis Rochet as his teacher. At the Salon database doesn’t mention one of his teachers (iR1). During his study he made many trips to Caen, Rouen and Le Havre to paint landscapes. Some sources mention he did not apparently engage in the studies and remained largely self-taught.
Boudin was inspired by the en-plein-air painting of Corot. He called (1875/02/26) Corot and J.F. Millet ’the two most powerful individuals of our time’ (R318,p204). Jongkind inspired him the most and had stimulated Boudin to adopt a greater freedom; his lines became more spontaneous and his colours brighter. Others who gave him advice and inspired him are Isabey, Troyon, and Courbet.
Sources: R318,p196/7;R1,p38;R3,p649;R161,p10+18+25;R87,p230;iR3;iR22;aR1.

 

Eugène Boudin and his relations:
Around 1844-48 Boudin had contacts with Thomas Couture, J.F. Millet, Ribot and Troyon; mainly in his own shop in Le Havre, where he framed pictures. In the early 1850s he had close friendships with Berthoud and Lemarcis. Boudin spend time (in 1854 and later on) at the Saint-Siméon farm* (run by Mère Toutain) in Honfleur. Friendships were important for Boudin, who was greatly affected by the death of his friend Troyon (1865/03/20). He was also befriended with Corot and Daubigny (1861 onwards), and later on with Théodule Ribot and Whistler. Boudin was also befriended with Dubourg and Courbet, with whom he painted together (namely in 1865). Around 1862 and later There was a warm friendship between Boudin, Jongkind and Monet; they spent time together at the Saint-Siméon farm, namely in 1862 and 1864. 1872/01/02 Boudin went to the housewarming party at Monet his new house in Argenteuil (R22I,p93). Monet would occasionally visit Boudin (in Brittany). Boudin also had connections with Harpignies, Gautier, Ribot and Puvis de Chavannes (who invited him to join the Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts).
1868/09/03 (Pierre-Isidore?) Bureau bought from him a beach scene (R318,p202).
Note*: this was a colony for painters as Corot, Courbet, François-Louis Français, Henri Harpignies, Constantin Troyon, Paul Huet,  Eugène Isabey, Alexandre Dubourg and Jongkind.
Sources: R318,p195+;R161,p7+8+13+14+20+21+24+29;R1,p29+38+41+42+61+69;R22I,p40+53+93+99;R3;iR1;iR3;iR22;iR65;aR1.

 

Eugène Boudin, a painter of skies, beaches, harbours, cows and more:
In 1854 Boudin wrote: “when I am walking … I look at the light which bathes the earth, shimmers on the water and plays on people’s clothing…” (R161,p12). He also wrote: “Everything that is painted directly on the spot, has always a strength, a power, a vividness of touch that one doesn’t find again in the studio.” He pleaded “retaining one’s first impression” and to render “the whole” (R1,p38).
Boudin was a painter of skies, they always took up at least 2/3 or 3/4 of the picture (R161,p26). In his Salon review of 1859, Baudelair praised the many studies of skies, which Boudin had made (in the years before): “their fantastic and luminous shapes, the chaotic darkness, the floating and intermingling masses of green and pink…”. (R161,p21;R1,p42). On these pastels Boudin wrote the date, the time and the wind. They were not exhibited at the Salon of 1859 (R161,p20;iR1; though other sources claim they were (R3;iR65;iR3); 4 of them were exhibited at the 1st ‘impressionist’ exposition in 1874. Corot once had said: “Boudin you are the master of the skies!” (R161,p24).

Boudin also was a ‘painter of beaches‘ (R161,p48). In the 1860s he made lots of works depicting middle-class people on the beaches of Trouville and elswhere “often resting from strenuous work” (R1,p44); but 1867/08/18 he “feels almost ashamed at painting the idle rich” (R161,p49). During his last years Boudin painted harly any beach scenes (R161,p76). Around 1872 the theme of harbours and ships had become more important, than the beaches (R161,p59). Many of his works depict the sea (R87). Other themes that Boudin often rendered in his pictures are: washerwoman, market places, sketches of cattle; other themes are village squares, farmyards, churches (R161,p76). Boudin was not a good portrait painter and just painted a few portraits (R161,p12+76).
In his paintings Boudin tried to render the changings in the atmosphere (R87). He always was caught by the light, which was the dominating element in his works (R74). He did not render volume, but light reflections (R74). Baudelaire reviewed that one could guess the season, the hour and the wind direction in his paintings (R74). He was a precursor of the Impressionists (R74). Some state that he was the first who suggested to paint en-plein-air (iR22), what is disputable. Others mentions he was inspired to do so by Jongkind (iR3). Boudin never liked bright sunshine, he was a painter of gray light (R161,p81+84). Boudin had fluctuating moods of happiness and depression, the latter reflected in works devoid of all human presence (R161,p21). Boudin often painted on wood (R161,p55).
Already in 1854 Boudin gets troubles with his eyes. His friend Berthoud wrote ‘nothing disturbs the view like the reverberation of light on the sea’ (R318,p197).

 

Eugène Boudin was an inspirator for Monet:
Some sources state that Boudin met Claude Monet early 1858 and inspired him to paint en-plein-air. Monet was at first was not interested, but in the summer they painted together in Rouelles. Laurent Manoeuvre gives strong arguments that they already met August 1856*. Monet wrote in a letter to Boudin (1892/08/22) ‘I haven’t forgotten that it was you who first taught me to see and comprehend.’ (R318,p212). Monet later would say: “If I have become a painter, it is entirely due to Eugène Boudin.” (R161,p20). In a letter (1920/05/08)  to Geffroy, his biographer, Monet would write “I consider Eugène Boudin as my teacher… I owe everything to Boudin and I am grateful to him for my success.” (R51,p26).
Boudin and Monet were life long friends (iR3), though their friendship would decline after 1883 (R51,p23). Boudin would always admire Monet his work. 1886/08/19 he wrote to Martin about an exposition of Monet “(paintings) have never been more vibrant or intense.” (R51,p24). They had frequent contacts: 1870/08 Boudin and Monet met in Trouville; later on Monet fled to London, while his wife and son first stayed some time with the Boudin family (R51,p21). 1872/01/02 Boudin writes the art-dealer Martin: “We often see Monet at his place (in Argenteuil)” (R51,p21). Strangely in 1874/02/03 Boudin wrote Martin “Monet does not have the audacity to paint from nature” (R51,p22); did Monet not paint en-plein-air in 1874?

In 2018 there was an exhibition in Madrid about Boudin and Monet (aR22;aR23;aR3;iR3;M100).
Boudin also was the teacher of Louis Braquaval (iR24). He influenced several artists like Cals and Louis-Alexandre Dubourg (iR24).
Note*: source R51,p18; see also iR3;iR22. But, in his biography on Boudin Laurent Manoeuvre doesn’t repeat this meeting (R318,p197/8).
Sources: R161,p18-20;R1,p38;R22I,p18;R3;R51,p23+24+26;R161,p20;iR3.

Eugène Boudin and Durand-Ruel:
In 1881 Durand-Ruel bought the entire content of his studio and became his main art-dealer. Probably they had a sort of gentlemen’s agreement: Durand-Ruel would pay Boudin on a regular basis and in return could choose from recent works. Still, Boudin had to ask Durand-Ruel several times ’to have our term paid’ (R318,p208), namely 1884/10/07 +1885/07/13 +1886/06/28? +1888/07/26?. Boudin also asked some other payments: 1888/07/04 (for the rent of his Parisian dwelling).
In 1890 Boudin had sold Durand-Ruel 52 paintings.

Durand-Ruel inaugurated his new gallery at 9, Boulevard de la Madeleine, Paris in Februar 1883 with a solo exposition of Eugène Boudin. He showed 150 paintings, and series of pastels and watercolours. Boudin was called one of the best landscape artists of the present day, who renders the immediate impression of what he sees. Geffroy reviewed “These paintings (mainly seascapes) reproduce atmospheric conditions, the play of light…” (R161,p72/3).
Later on Durand-Ruel held some more solo exhibitions:
1889/07/08 – 08/14: at the Parisian galleries at 11, rue Le Pelletier and 16, rue Laffitte including 89 paintings, 9 charcoal drawings (no.90-98) and a collection of pastels (marines and landscapes) (iR40,bpt6k3260963=aR16). Earlier (1889/04/20) Boudin convided in a letter: ‘I work like a madman for M. Durand-Ruel, who at last wants to exhibit my works’ (R318,p209).
1890/05/15: in Boston at the Chase’s gallery 13 paintings and also pastels and aquarelles.
1890/12: (in Paris) 99 paintings and also pastels.
1891/03/09: 34 paintings, a number of pastels and many drawings.
1898/12: posthumous exhibition in New York.

Durand-Ruel included works of Boudin in several group exhibitions.
He exhibited 23 works at the large exhibition in 1886 in New York.
May and June 1888 Durand-Ruel held an exhibition with works of also Brown, Caillebotte, Lépine, Morisot, Pissarro, Renoir, Sisley and Whistler.
1891/06/15 – 25: duo-expo with Renoir.
1905/01 – 02: exhibition in London at the Grafton Galleries with works of Boudin (posthumously) and many other impressionists (R22I,p369;R31,p310)

Sources: R161,p70+73+79+81+92;R51,p23+237;R318,p207-216;R3,p649;R87,p230;R22I,p241;R31,p303;iR22;aR1.

Louis-Eugène Boudin, a short biography:

  • 1824/07/12: Louis-Eugène Boudin was born in Honfleur (R318,p194;iR24;R161;iR1;R3;R74;iR22;iR3;aR1)
    His father Léonard-Sébastien Boudin had been a sailor and than worked on a ferry from 1838-1862 (R318,p194;aR1;R161;R3)
  • 1835: the family moved to Le Havre; his father opened a store (R161,p7;R318,p194;iR3;R3;iR22;aR1)
  • 1836ca: Eugène Boudin started working as a clerk and later worked in a shop (R161,p7)
  • 1844-46: with Jean Archer Boudin had a stationery and framing shop at 18, Rue de la Communauté, Le Havre (present location unknown) (R161,p7+8;R1,p38;R318,p195)
  • 1846: started painting full-time (R161,p8;iR3)
  • 1846-63ca: Boudin often had financial problems and sold his works for low prices (R161,p8+17+18;R318,p195+)
  • 1846: lived with his family at 51, Grand-Quai, Le Havre (location uncertain) (R161,p8)
  • 1847: travelled to Paris (R161,p8;R318,p195;R3;iR22;iR3;aR1)
  • 1848-49: travelled through the north of France and Belgium (R161,p9;R318,p195;iR24;R3;iR3)
  • 1854: returned to Le Havre; first lived in the Rue de L’Orangerie (present location unknown) and later in Rue Séry (R161,p12)
  • 1855: painted in the surroundings of Douarnez and Quimper (R161,p18;R318,p197)
  • 1857: paints in Brittany, Finistère, Brest and makes many sketches at the pilgrimage of Sainte-Anne-La-Palud (R161,p18;R318,p198)
  • 1859/Spring: lived at 10, Rue de la Halle, Le Havre (iR1; location unknown)
  • 1859: lived for a short time at 8, boulevard Montmartre, Paris, later painting in Quimper and returning to Le Havre (R161,p21)
  • 1860: first stay in Trouville, at the right bank of the Touques; Deauville at the opposite bank, became a fashionable resort; Boudin would often return to Trouville (R161,p21)
  • 1860ca: settled in Honfleur, 36, marches, rue de l’Homme de Bois (R318,p199;R87;iR24)
  • 1861/winter: stays at 66,Rue Pigalle, Paris, with Marie-Anne Guédès, his later wife (R161,p21), whom he first met 1856/10/12 (R318,p198)
  • 1863/01/14: married Marie-Anne Guédès (born 1835/04/17); they went to live at 27, Avenue Trudaine, Paris (R161,p26;R318,p200).
    Boudin would spent the summers at the Normandy (and Brittany) coast and the winters in Paris, renting appartments at different addresses (R161,p26+55).
  • 1863/06/03: death of his father (R318,p200;R161,p26)
  • 1864: lives at 14, Rue Durantin, Paris (Montmartre) (iR1;R161,p26).
  • 1864: was getting successfull with his beach scenes (R161,p26)
  • 1864-68: lives at 31, Rue Fontaine(-Saint-Georges), Paris (iR1;R161,p26).
  • 1867/Spring: Boudin lived at 110, Boulevard Magenta, Paris (iR1).
  • 1869: dealers like Martin, Hagerman and Gauchez repeatedly purchased works from Boudin, whose financial worries belonged to the past (R161,p55)
  • 1869: decorative painting for a castle in Bourdainville(R161,p55); Walther writes this was in 1868 (R3,p649); Manoeuvre doesn’t mention it (R318,p202/3).
  • 1869-76: studio at 31, Rue Saint-Lazare, Paris (iR1;R161,p91;
    note: Selz also wrongly mentions it was number 32 (R161,p55).
  • 1870/12 -1871: stayed in Brussels; (R318,p203;R3,p649)
  • 1870/07/12: Boudin and his wife meet the Monet family in Trouville (R22I,p84).
  • 1870/09/13: left Trouville for Brittany (R22I,p85)
  • 1870/12/12: arrived in Brussels, 69, Rue de Mérode; later moved to 74, Rue de Hollande; also painted in Antwerp (R161,p55).
  • 1871/04: visited his sick mother in Le Havre, than went back to Brussels and Antwerp; he would return several times untill 1876 (R161,p59)
  • 1871/06/08: his mother died (R318,p203;R161,p59)
  • 1871/06: first symptoms of facial neugalgia (R161,p59;R318,p203)
  • 1871/07/07 -08/20: stayed in Anvers (R318,p203)
  • 1871/automn: stayed in Finistère (Brittany) (R318,p203)
  • 1871/12/01: returned to Paris (R51,p21;R318,p203)
  • 1872-90: travelled to Belgium and Holland (Dordrecht, Rotterdam, Scheveningen (R161,p92;R3;iR24)
  • 1873: visited Bordeaux and Rotterdam (R161,p59); between 1874-76 Boudin would produce more than 75 pictures of Bordeaux (R161,p65)
  • 1877-81: studio at 54, Rue Lamartine, Paris (iR1); Selz mentions this was 1878 onwards (R161,p69), but the Salon database indicates that Boudin lived there already during the Salon of 1877 (iR1).
  • 1882-97: dwells at 11, Place Vintimille, Paris (in 1890 (wrongly) noted as no.13)(iR1;R161); probably untill early 1898 (R161,p84).
  • 1884: build ‘Villa des Ajoncs’ at Rue Olliffe, Deauville (R161,p73+87;R3)
  • 1884: visited Dordrecht and produced 45 pictures (R161,p73;R318,p207)
  • 1886: Boudin painted in Berck and Saint-Valéry-sur-Somme (R318,p208)
  • 1889/03/24: death of his wife (R161,p79;R318,p209)
  • 1890 onwards: spends the winter in the south of France (aR1)
  • 1892+94+95: stayed in Venice (R161;R3;iR3;iR22); more precise: 1894/06 and 1895/05 + 06 (R161,p82;R318,p214).
  • 1893 onwards: stayed the summers in Normandy and the winters in the Mediterranean (R161,p81).
  • 1895: Travelled to the Côte d’Azur (R161;R3). Other sources (wrongly) mention he did so in 1885 (aR1).
  • 1898/08/08: Boudin died in his villa in Deauville (iR24;R161,p87;R318,p216;R74;iR3;aR1)
  • 1898/08/12: buried at the Saint-Vincent cemetery (Place Vintimille, no.11) in Montmartre (R318,p216;R161,p87).
  • There have been several larger exhibitions after his death (iR24)
  • 1900: publication of ‘Eugène Boudin: sa vie et son oeuvre’ by Gustave Cahen (iR6;iR19=aR8)
  • 1922: publication of Georges Jean-Aubry: Eugène Boudin d’après des documents inédits, l’homme et l’œuvre (iR19=aR9)
  • 1973: publication of the Catalogue Raisonné by Robert Schmit (=R122), containing 3651 oil paintings (R161,p87); supplements were published in 1984 +1993.
  • The Cabinet des Dessins at the Louvre has 5.887 drawings, pastels and watercolours of Boudin (R161,p87;M5a)
  • 2018: exhibition Monet / Boudin in the Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza in Madrid (aR3;aR22;aR23;M100)
  • 2025/04/09 – 08/31: exhibition in Musée Marmottan: Boudin, the father of Impressionism (M2).

 

Sources:
My main sources are Selz (1991=R161), Bergeret-Gourbin (2014=R51) and Bergeret-Gourbin (ed.) (1992=R318). Other main sources are: Rewald (1973=R1), Moffett (1986=R2), Walther (2013=R3,p649), Spiess (R16,p14-17), Wildenstein (1996=R22I), Maillard (1968=R74), Dayez (1974,R87,p230), Berson (1996=R90), the Salon database (iR1), Wikipedia (iR3; iR4), archive.org (=iR19), WGI (iR22), RKD (iR24), gallica.bnf.fr (=iR40), Marques (iR65) and the additional references (=aRx; see below). For other general references (=R) see. My main sources (for the pictures) from the internet are the-athenaeum (iR2); WikiPedia (iR3; list of paintings); Wikimedia (iR6; with several catagories), Joconde (iR23), the additional references (=aR; see below) and Google images (iR10). For other references to internet sites (=iR) see. See links for practical hints and abbreviations and for the subscription of the paintings.
For further reading see:
Schmidt, Robert: Catalogue Raisonné (1973=R122); + supplements (1984+1993)
Alexandre, Arsène: L’Oeuvre d’Eugène Boudin. Paris, 1899.
Cahen, Gustave: Eugène Boudin; sa vie et son oeuvre. Paris, 1900. (199p) (=aR21;iR24;iR65).
Jean-Aubry, G.: Eugène Boudin d’après des documents inédits : l’homme et l’oeuvre. Paris : Bernheim-Jeune, 1922 (198p) (iR24)
Marx, Roger: Eugène Boudin (1824-1898). Paris, Crès, 19 27. (47p) (iR24)
Bénézit (1976,=R75), Allgemeines Künstlerlexikon (R81) (iR60).
Chaleil, Frédéric: Eugène Boudin par ses contemporains. Paris, 2013 (iR24)
The father of Impressionism; Eugène Boudin and his circle. London, 2016 (iR24).
López-Manzanares, Ángel: Monet/Boudin. Exhibition Catalogue. Museum Thyssen-Bornemisza, Madrid, 2018 (264p; only in Spanish) (=M100;aR23)

Additional references (=aRx):

  1. Vanished French Impressionist 2  (article of the eclecticlight on Boudin and others;=iR35)
  2. eugeneboudin.org (very many pictures without information with irritating pop-ups)
  3. mutualart.com (article on the Monet/Boudin exhibition in Madrid in 2018=iR11)
  4. mutualart.com (article from Art-Daily (2018/08/19) on the same exhibition=iR11)
  5. “Eugène Boudin.” In Database of Modern Exhibitions (DoME). European Paintings and Drawings 1905-1915. Last modified Dec 17, 2020. http://exhibitions.univie.ac.at/person/ulan/500004513 ; =iR261.
  6. www.pop.culture.gouv.fr//Boudin_album (database of album with drawings / sketches of Eugène Boudin; =iR23)
  7. www.pop.culture.gouv.fr//Boudin (database of pictures of Boudin in French musea; =iR23)
  8. www.archive.org//ark:/13960/t9c53sp3g (PDF of Gustave Cahen: Eugène Boudin: sa vie et son oeuvre. Paris, 1900; =iR19)
  9. www.archive.org//ark:/13960/t59c76v3j (PDF of Georges Jean-Aubry: Eugène Boudin d’après des documents inédits, l’homme et l’œuvre. Paris, 1922 ; =iR19)
  10. gallica.bnf.fr//bpt6k65737688 (catalogue of the exhibition at the École Nationale des Beaux-Arts 1899/01/09 – 30;=iR40)
  11. archive.org//ark:/13960/t3jx6th0t (PDF catalogue of the Hôtel Drouot auction 1888/04/19; =iR19)
  12. archive.org//ark:/13960/t8qd1nm99 (PDF of the catalogue of the Hôtel Drouot auction 1899/03/20+21; = iR19)
  13. archive.org//Eugene_Boudin (overview of documents and paintings on this website; =iR19)
  14. gallica.bnf.fr//Eugene_Boudin (overview of documents on this great database; = iR40)
  15. data.bnf.fr//Eugene_Boudin (overview of works and documents; =iR26)
  16. gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/cb41644088p (catalogue of the Durand-Ruel exhibition 1889/07/08 – 08/14; =iR40)
  17. collection.louvre.fr//ark:53355 (collection of drawings, pastels at the Louvre; =M5)
  18. MuMa-lehavre.fr//boudin_ciels (overview of sky studies by Boudin in Musée Malraux; =M15)
  19. muma-lehavre.fr//eugène_boudin (starting page on Boudin of the Musée Malraux website; =M15)
  20. gallica.bnf.fr//bpt6k42262130 (article by Roger Marx on Boudin (Le roi des ciels) in L’amour de l’art, 1927, p355-359; =iR40 = R356)
  21. ia601308.us.archive.org  (PDF of Cahen, Gustave: Eugène Boudin, sa vie et son oeuvre. Paris, 1900.; =iR19 = R382)
  22. MuseoThyssen.org/MonetBoudin (info on the exposition Monet/Boudin in the Museum Thyssen-Bornemisza, Madrid =M100)
  23. museothyssen.org/digital-publication/monetboudin (digital publication on the 2018 exposition Monet/Boudin in the Museum Thyssen-Bornemisza, Madrid =M100)
  24. magrasku.de/KG-07 (article in German on developments preceding the ‘impressionist’ expositions, including on Boudin; =iR59)
  25. inter-coprorietes.com//boudin (many large pictures and some info on Boudin)
  26. georgeviau.fr//boudin (Pictures of Boudin from the George Viau collection; =iR493)

 

Recommanded citation: “Impressionism: Eugène Boudin, between Pre-Impressionism and Impressionism. Last modified 2025/07/11.  https://www.impressionism.nl/boudin-eugene/.”

Note: additional info and pictures will be added.