Dunkerque

This peaceful harbor scene captures the French port city of Dunkerque on what appears to be an ordinary working day. Small boats drift across the calm water while the town's rooftops and church tower create a modest skyline in the distance. Eugène Boudin painted this view in his characteristically loose, atmospheric style, paying as much attention to the sweeping cloudy sky as to the activity below.

Boudin was a master at capturing the changing moods of coastal France, and he's often credited as one of the key figures who inspired the Impressionist movement. His young student Claude Monet once said that Boudin opened his eyes to the possibilities of painting outdoors and capturing natural light. While this painting might seem simple at first glance, notice how Boudin uses quick brushstrokes and a muted color palette to convey the damp, overcast atmosphere of a northern port town, making you almost feel the cool sea breeze.