Honfleur

#honfleur #oscarmonet #claudemonet #eugeneboudin #impressionism

Having stayed overnight in  Caudebec, we set off next morning by coach to Honfleur, a place we hadn't really researched and had little expectation of. In the end, as an artist, this was an enlightening experience. 
We were met by a local guide and as a group we walked around the town and we hadn't realised that this place was recognised as the birthplace of Impressionism. The guide talked about how the light effects of the region was inspirational and attracted several artists. 
Stopping in a small square she explained that a teenage Oscar Monet would travel into town, from his nearby home, and make a little money doing portraits and caricatures of local people and visitors.
Eugene Boudin recognised Monet's talent and helped him to develop his style inspiring him to paint Plein air. Eventually, he decided to use his middle name Claude, by which he is now known.

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Moving onto the harbour it was exciting to stand at one of the inspirational places for these artists. Both Monet and Boudin painted versions of this view and it was easy to see why.



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Two painting of the harbour by Boudin

Two paintings of the harbour by Monet

Moving on we visited a small square where the wooden building of Saint Catherine church stands. A stunning structure also painted by both artists.


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Monet's painting of the church clocktower and and one by Boudin

Moving around the maze of streets, it was no surprise to find  several art shops selling a full range of styles for visitors to buy.

After a while exploring, we decided to have lunch at one of the restaurants we had checked out earlier. A tip here is not to leave it too late as they soon fill up. We ended up buying a crepe and sitting along the harbour enjoying the food and view. Another tip is don't get a banana and Nutella crepe without a plate, a knife and a fork as eating it became quite messy!
So an enjoyable few hours exploring and learning about the importance of this area to Impressionism and  Monet's early life.