Impressionism and the Sea

Capturing the natural beauty of coastal landscapes and the delicate play of light on water, this volume celebrates impressionist depictions of nautical and beachside life.

To mark the 150th anniversary of the birth of Impressionism in 1874, the Musée des Impressionnismes at Giverny is organising an exhibition in spring 2024 entitled Impressionism and the Sea. Through the works of artists such as Eugène Boudin, Johan Barthold Jongkind, Claude Monet, Gustave Courbet and Paul Gauguin, this book offers a journey along the coast, on beaches from Normandy to Tahiti, at sea or on the docks amongst the fishermen.

The Impressionists went beyond portraying a generic, attractive image of the beaches of Deauville or Cabourg to paint port life, transport and the maritime industry, as well as life at sea, storms, shipwrecks and a taste for elsewhere... Photographs such as those by Paul Lancrenon and Gustave Le Gray take us to these coastlines interpreted by the impressionists; used alongside the paintings, they serve as a powerful snapshot of 19th century costal life. The geographical perimeter is fairly restricted: the artists' sojourns were focused between Normandy and the French Riviera. While there will be a focus on the treatment of the navy in Normandy, the exhibition will also examine the subject of Impressionism in Brittany, around Maxime Maufra, Ferdinand du Puigaudeau and Henry Moret, all of whom were strongly influenced by Claude Monet.

This catalogue aims to give a new vision of the Impressionists' attraction to the sea and coastal life. With new perspectives and interesting juxtapositions, this book offers an insightful meander through time, encouraging meditative reflections and providing poignant messages with delicate brushstrokes and unrivalled color palettes. Grouping together a collection of artists, countries and continents, this book highlights the impressionists shared magnetism to the sea.