Eugène Feyen (1815 - 1908)

Eugène Feyen was a 19th-century French painter, best known for his seascapes and depictions of the lives of Breton fishermen. Born in Bey-sur-Seille, in Lorraine, he trained in Paris before discovering, in the 1840s, the coast of Brittany, which would become his main source of inspiration.

He regularly settled in Cancale, where he observed with great accuracy the daily lives of sailors, fishermen’s wives and the famous oyster-gatherers. Far from presenting an idealised vision, Feyen sensitively captured the harshness of the work, the everyday gestures and the ever-changing coastal landscapes.

His works, characterised by meticulous drawing, a restrained colour palette and natural light, are now sought after both for their artistic qualities and their documentary value. They feature in several public collections, notably at the Musée des Beaux-Arts in Rennes and the Musée d’Art et d’Histoire in Saint-Brieuc.