Boudin first visited Trouville in about 1861 or 1862 and painted there each year throughout the rest of his career. This work belongs to a series of seascapes in which he recorded the dinghies and sailing ships that regularly visited the harbour. The small scale and sketchiness of the painting indicate that it was executed quickly in the open air, although there is evidence of some deliberation in the pencil underdrawing. Boudin’s subject matter, technique and light palette are comparable only to Jongkind, who also specialised in seascapes. Both artists had a profound influence on a number of Impressionist artists, including Monet, Sisley and Pissarro.