Small Fishing Boats of Berck (Petites Pêcheuses de Berck)
1897
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1897
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Small Fishing Boats of Berck (Petites Pêcheuses de Berck) is a 1897 ink by Paul-Albert Besnard, a Impressionism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This print shows three small boats rocking in choppy water, their sails drooping. Two people sit in the closest boat, their backs turned, looking out to sea. The waves crash around them, and the shore is a dark, jagged line in the distance. The artist used sharp lines to show the boats’ movement, almost like they’re caught mid-storm. The rough texture of the paper makes the scene feel alive, as if the wind is still blowing. Look up etching to see how artists like this one carve images into metal plates.
