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Eugène-Louis Boudin was born in the French port of Honfleur in 1824. He is today recognised as an important precursor of Impressionism, particularly in terms of the influence that he had on the young Claude Monet, in encouraging him to take up landscape painting. In this sombre seascape, a single vessel dominates the scene, heading out to sea. French and American national flags are flying from its masts, while its sails are all furled. The changing colours of the sky and sea are predominantly pale in tone - greens, blues, whites, greys - contrasting with the dark bulk of the ship and the thick black smoke emitting from its funnel.