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The Pioneer of Impressionism Who Guided the Young Claude Monet

　Eugène Boudin, a French painter known as a “pioneer of Impressionism.” While studying under the Barbizon School, he forged his own unique style from an early age, depicting familiar motifs from his native Normandy—such as the sky, seashore landscapes, and herds of cattle—with vibrant colors and a light, fluid brushstroke.His emphasis on painting outdoors and his pursuit of the “moment” revealed by shifting light and atmospheric conditions had a profound influence on the young Claude Monet, eventually leading to the birth of Impressionism.

　Although Boudin is known as a master of skies and seascapes, his appeal extends far beyond that. This exhibition—the first full-scale retrospective in Japan in approximately 30 years—explores Boudin’s multifaceted charm and true character through approximately 100 works, including paintings of the places and people he loved, paintings he kept with him until the end of his life, and private sketches, highlighting his contribution to the development of modern landscape painting.