Ships and Sailing Boats Leaving Le Havre

Eugène Boudin

National Gallery of Art

This is a painting depicting several ships on a stretch of water. The horizon is situated in the lower third of the painting, creating a vast expanse of sky above. Several ships can be seen on the horizon; a large sailing ship with multiple masts and large white sails dominates the center, surrounded by smaller vessels with off-white sails. One of these smaller ships is close to us, to the left of center. At the top of its mast, a small blue flag flies. A wave appears to crash over the side of this ship, and two small people are visible on it. The sea is a blue-green color, with lines of white and light gray indicating small waves. The sky is light blue and covered in puffy white and gray clouds. The brushstrokes in the painting are loose and fluid, especially those in the water.