Open full image Pin

La Falaise: Baie de Saint-Malo (The Cliff: Saint-Malo Bay)

Félix-Hilaire Buhot

1888

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Impressionism Realism Late 19th Century Landscape

Dominant colour

La Falaise: Baie de Saint-Malo (The Cliff: Saint-Malo Bay) is a 1888 ink by Félix-Hilaire Buhot, a Impressionism work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Félix-Hilaire Buhot
When & what style?: 1888 · Impressionism
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This sketchy print shows a rocky coastline with steep cliffs dropping into the sea. The waves crash against jagged rocks, and a few small ships dot the water in the distance. The sky is mostly empty, with just a hint of clouds. The lines are rough and textured, giving the whole scene a grainy, almost scratchy look. The artist used a mix of techniques to create these different tones—some areas look like they were scratched into the plate, while others have smooth washes. This wasn’t just a quick sketch; it’s layered with careful shading. If you like this style, look up etching to see how artists build up textures like this.