Boudin was born in Honfleur, a coastal village a few miles from the port city of Le Havre on the English Channel. He moved to Le Havre where he ran a small shop selling frames and artists' supplies. A fellowship from the city enabled him to study in Paris. Boudin was among the first painters to work outdoors and his practice and concern for natual light was to influence the impressionist artists of the next generation. He was invited by Monet to participate in the first impressionist exhibition in 1874.
In June of 1884 Boudin traveled to Dordrecht, about 30 miles southeast of Rotterdam. Although his visit lasted less than five weeks, he painted nearly fifty paintings during that time, including Harbor at Dordrecht.
Boudin died in 1898 in Deauville, just a few miles from where he had been born. Well over 3600 works are included in the catalog of his life's production.
Source: Bulletin, July-August, 1981.
Exhibition History"Highlights from Three Collections: The Bohen, Coffin and Cowles Collections," Des Moines Art Center, July 8 - Sept. 11, 1983
"Selections from the Collection of Mrs. Fred Bohen," Des Moines Art Center, Nov. 13, 1977 - Jan. 1, 1978
"A Collection in the Making: Paintings and Graphic Arts from the Collection of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Bohen," Josyln Art Museum, Omaha, Nov. 12 - Dec. 9, 1967
"Eugene Boudin - 1824-1898,"Hirschl & Adler Galleries, N.Y., Nov. 2 - 26, 1966
Published ReferencesRobert Schmit, EUGENE BOUDIN, Vol. 2, Paris, 1973, ill. p.199
"Eugene Boudin 1824 - 1898," Hirschl & Adler Galleries, N. Y., 1966, cat. no.36, ill.
"Selections from the Collection of Mrs. Fred Bohen," Des Moines Art Center, 1977, cat. no.3, color ill.
"A Collection in the Making: Paintings and Graphic Arts from the Collection of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Bohen," Joslyn Art Museum, Omaha, 1967, cat. no.4, ill.
DMAC Bulletin, July/Aug. 1981, cover ill.
DES MOINES ART CENTER: SELECTED PAINTINGS, SCULPTURES AND WORKS ON PAPER, Des Moines Art Center, 1985, ref. pp.40 & 41, color ill. pl.IV
