Eugène Boudin, the father of Impressionism: exhibition unveiled at Musée Marmottan Monet

The Musée Marmottan Monet hosts the exhibition "Eugène Boudin - Le père de l'impressionnisme : une collection particulière" from April 9 to August 31, 2025. An immersion in the work of the French artist, through 80 pieces from prestigious collections.

From April 9 to August 31, 2025, the Musée Marmottan Monet is devoting a brand-new exhibition to the artist Eugène Boudin, entitled Eugène Boudin - Le père de l'impressionnisme : une collection particulière. This retrospective looks back over 50 years of career and painting, to discover a major artist of the French art world.

Theexhibition, orchestrated by art historian Laurent Manœuvre, brings together 80 works from the Yann Guyonvarc'h collection, as well as several loans from the Musée des Beaux-Arts d'Agen and the Musée André Malraux in Le Havre. Through this exhibition, visitors are invited to rediscover the work ofEugène Boudin, often considered a precursor ofImpressionism.

Seascapes, soft colors and brushstrokes: Eugène Boudin was one of the first artists to leave his studio and set up his easel directly outside, in front of his subject. An Impressionist before the Impressionists, his influence and importance can be seen in these works exhibited at the Musée Marmottan Monet.

Organized into eight sections, the exhibition retracesEugène Boudin's career, from his early landscapes of Normandy to his seascapes of the Midi and Venice. Focusing on his stays in Brittany, Bordeaux and Belgium, the exhibition illustrates the evolution of his work and highlights his sketches and paintings for the Salons. Works from the Guyonvarc'h collection interact with those from the Musée Marmottan Monet, revealing the interactions between the painter and Claude Monet, his pupil and friend. The Durand-Ruel archives complete this approach, evoking the relationship between the two artists and their dealer.

Known for his seascapes and beach scenes, the artist left his mark on art history through his plein-air practice and attention to atmospheric effects. In this regard, Claude Monet declared: " I owe everything to Boudin ", a quotation that sums up the artist's major influence on the Impressionists. In fact, the proximity between the two artists is sometimes astonishing: some canvases seem to have been painted by Monet. Choice of subject, color and technique: Monet followed in his mentor's footsteps.

And don't forget: there's a little game you can play during your visit to the exhibition. In many of his paintings, Eugène Boudin places a touch of red in the center of his composition. Inspect each work to find it!

The exhibition showcases exceptionally well-preserved works of exceptional quality, in a sober, classical setting. The Eugène Boudin exhibition should particularly appeal to lovers of Impressionism.

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