1900
ink
vellum
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Cast of a Net (Le coup de filet) is a 1900 ink by Paul-Albert Besnard, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows a tangled fishing net full of fish, half-dragged onto a rocky shore. The lines are rough and busy, like waves crashing around the net. A few fish flop near the water’s edge, while others are buried in the messy pile. The artist used quick, scratchy marks to show movement and texture—almost like the net is still struggling. This is an etching, where the design is scratched into a metal plate before inking. Next, look up etching to see how artists create prints this way.
Paul-Albert Besnard (1849–1934) was a French artist, born in 7th arrondissement of Paris.
See the richer artist pageYour cart is empty
Explore artworks →
