Coastal Landscape with Shipping
1858
graphite
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1858
graphite
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This sketch shows a quiet harbor scene with three ships at anchor. The water is calm, and the shore has a few small buildings and trees. The sky is lightly drawn with wispy clouds, keeping the focus on the boats and the flat, pale ground. The artist used quick, loose lines to capture the ships and waves, leaving a lot of the paper bare. This sketch style was common in studies before finished paintings. Next, look up Boudin, Eugène to see how his sketches connect to his larger paintings.
