Inspired by Eugène Boudin (1824 – 1898) – Wedding in the region of PLougastel-Daoulas (around 1868 – 1870) – Lead pencil / Watercolour – 6,02 x 7,75 inch

Yvon is extremely moved this morning. Swallowing his ritual black coffee without sugar ? He couldn’t make it. His wife had, however, prepared it and brought it to him into the bathroom, like every day now since their first date, thirty years ago. Time goes by so quickly. He scratched himself twice while shaving, slipped into his bath and almost smashed his head, and on top of that, dropped his brand new bottle of perfume on the floor. Necessarily, an unforgiving act. Eau Sauvage invaded the room within seconds and will very soon infect the whole flat as soon as he opens the door. Fussy, he insists on ironing his shirt in person. Bright idea, he managed to burn the left sleeve. When his wife comes back home from the hairdresser and notices the extent of the damage, she orders her husband to sit on the sofa immediately and touch nothing. Exposed to disasters since he put a foot on the floor, no way risking anything from … She surprises the dog chewing her brand new shoes bought specifically for the ceremony. Come on. And the day is yet just getting started.

The church is jammed with family, friends, and onlookers. Edgy, Yvon, waiting on the doorsteps, can’t help himself from non-stop smoking . He is not allowed to anymore due to a task on his lungs found last month by his doctor. He hasn’t told anyone yet. Inevitably …

He, then recognized, his only child, Marie, all dressed in white, a veil covering entirely her face. She gets out of the car driven by her cousin. He guesses her two cheeky hazel eyes and her sulky pout. He offers his hand, she takes his arm. The organ plays. The time has come. Father and daughter progress in small steps, stared at, admired by the insatiable crowd. Yvon cannot hold back a tear from his left eye. He is shaking. The delicate pressure of his Marie’s hand eases his trouble for a few moments. He really must pull himself together. He cannot be overwhelmed by emotion. The path to the altar is so long. He had never noticed it before. They finally joined the priest and the future son-in-law. Yvon married his daughter Mary.