Yacht Basin at Trouville-Deauville

Eugène Boudin

National Gallery of Art

This painting shows a harbor with sailing ships displaying countless colorful flags. The ships stretch across the painting horizontally, floating on clear, reflective water. They don't appear to have any sails up, but their tall brown masts support rows of flags stretching from the highest point all the way to the deck. The water reflects the flags, adding to the vibrant atmosphere. The color palette includes light blues and whites in the sky, contrasted by the vivid red, yellow, black, white, and blue of the flags on the ships. The brushstrokes are loose and visible, creating a sense of movement.