Although overlooked by many art lovers and even art historians, Eugene Boudin (1824 - 1898) was the first Impressionist artist and one of the most important and tallented painters of the 19th century. From the beginning, his works were popular due to their spontaneity, keen sense and observation and the desire to bring something new to the art language. Despite his importance, Boudin is mostly remembered as the mentor of the younger Claude Monet (1840 - 1926) and unfortunatelly has received little attention, his works rarely been exhibited in exhibition, especially outside of Europe.
After over 30 years since the last American exhibition dedicated to Boudin, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in the US is hosting, starting on November 14, an impressive presentation of the works and the personality of the first Impressionist artist. The compositions selected are on loan from the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC, the museum who has one of the best collections of Boudin's works. In completation, the curators will present smaller works, some of them rarely seen by the public, from the VMFA own collection, bringing it to a total of about 30 paintings and 25 watercolors and drawings.
The core of the exhibition will be the small paintings, depicting tourists relaxing in the resorts of Normandy, very popular and in demand at that time, which helped impose Boudin as a new painter. From sketches to highly detailled compositions, these works were a pleasant surprise for the eye of his contemporaries, and attracted the attention of other painters, such as Camille Corot, Manet or Courbet. Today it is fascinating to discover how Boudin chose to depict the beaches and promenades and especially the tourists, paying a great deal of attention to the representantion of the fashion, especially of the ladies. Playing with effects of light and nature, he often introduced in his compositions the image of the artist, an intruder who, with his sketchbook at hand, made his way through the crowd.
In order for the audience to have a better look at that time's fashion and atmosphere, as well as the role that Boudin played in the evollution of Impressionism, the organisers will also include a few works presenting the life and activities of the locals in Normandy and Brittany, from fishermen to sailors.
Photo : vmfa.mediaroom.state.va.us
2007-07-11
