Who painted La Petite Marine - Souvenir de Medway (counterproof)?

La Petite Marine - Souvenir de Medway (counterproof) was painted by Félix-Hilaire Buhot in 1879.

Where can I see La Petite Marine - Souvenir de Medway (counterproof)?

La Petite Marine - Souvenir de Medway (counterproof) is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is La Petite Marine - Souvenir de Medway (counterproof)?

La Petite Marine - Souvenir de Medway (counterproof) is associated with Impressionism.

Can I buy a print of La Petite Marine - Souvenir de Medway (counterproof)?

Museum-quality prints of La Petite Marine - Souvenir de Medway (counterproof) are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

La Petite Marine - Souvenir de Medway (counterproof)

Félix-Hilaire Buhot , 1879

La Petite Marine - Souvenir de Medway (counterproof) is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Félix-Hilaire Buhot. It dates from 1879 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

Inscription: Inscribed:lower left in plate (mirror image): Rochester 1879 FB (in monogram); lower center below plate mark stamped in red: FB (Lugt 798); lower right below plate mark in graphite: contre épreuve à l'essence / Felix Buhot

About this work

Overview

Félix‑Hilaire Buhot’s print La Petite Marine – Souvenir de Medway, executed as a counterproof in 1879, presents a tranquil harbor scene rendered in black on wove paper. The composition centers on a solitary sailing vessel moving toward the horizon, a modest dock with a standing figure, and a few wooden posts emerging from the water, all set against an almost empty sky.

Subject & Meaning

The image captures a moment of quiet contemplation, emphasizing the solitary sailboat’s journey across a calm sea. The lone figure on the dock appears to be observing the vessel, suggesting themes of watchfulness and the passage of time within a maritime environment.

Technique & Style

Buhot combined etching, dry‑point, aquatint and roulette to achieve a range of line qualities and tonal effects. Rough, scratchy incisions convey the sense of wind‑ruffled water, while the aquatint provides subtle gradations of black, allowing the sky to remain nearly void and the central elements to dominate the visual field.

History & Provenance

Created in 1879, this counterproof version was likely produced as a test or reference copy for the artist’s larger edition. While specific ownership records are scarce, the work remains associated with Buhot’s series of maritime studies, reflecting his interest in the English Channel and the Medway estuary during the late nineteenth century.