One of the earliest French plein-air painters, Eugéne Boudin became known for his marine scenes, especially people and boats along the shores, and for the expansive skyscapes of these canvases. He worked in oil and pastel.

Boudin was born in Deauville, Honfleur, Normandy. His father was a sailor, and as a young man, he worked as a cabin boy on a steamer that sailed on the Seine River between Havre and Honfleur. However, he lost interest in making that activity his life's work, and became especially interested in art when in 1835, his father gave up being a sail and became a frame-maker.

Boudin became an assistant in his father's shop, and in that capacity met numerous artists working in t...