Artwork
A Wet Evening in Venice
A Wet Evening in Venice is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Otto Henry Bacher. It dates from 1880 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:Inscribed: "13504" in graphite, upper left; "Otto Bacher" (by unknown hand) in graphite, lower left; "65-" in graphite, lower right.
About this work
Overview
Otto Henry Bacher’s print titled A Wet Evening in Venice dates from around 1880. Executed as an etching, the work presents a nocturnal cityscape where the canals and architecture dissolve into a misty atmosphere. A solitary boat drifts centrally, its form almost swallowed by the swirling tonal masses that dominate both sky and water.
Subject & Meaning
The composition captures Venice at dusk, emphasizing the interplay of light and moisture. The indistinct outlines of the buildings and the reflective surface of the canal suggest a moment of quiet transition, inviting contemplation of the city’s timeless relationship with water and the fleeting nature of evening illumination.
Technique & Style
Bacher employed the traditional etching process, incising fine, repetitive lines into a metal plate and then using acid to deepen the grooves. The resulting inked print relies on dense, overlapping strokes to convey texture and the wet sheen of the scene, a hallmark of late‑19th‑century atmospheric etchings.
History & Provenance
Created circa 1880, the work reflects Bacher’s engagement with European printmaking during his travels. While specific ownership records are scarce, the print has appeared in several collections of American artists working abroad, illustrating the transatlantic exchange of techniques and subjects in the period.
Artist & collection
