Plougastel, the Ferry Crossing

When this picture was painted in 1873, the town of Plougastel in Brittany was linked to the city of Brest by ferry-probably the rowboat, filled with people, visible on the right. The boat's small scale compared with the rocky shore and cloud-filled sky may have been intended to emphasize the grandeur of nature. Boudin's vigorous handling of paint and his interest in capturing atmospheric effects inspired younger artists, including Claude Monet.

Credit: Gift of John C. Haas and Chara C. Haas, 2011