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La Traversee (The Passage)

Félix-Hilaire Buhot

1882

graphite

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Impressionism Realism Late 19th Century Marine

Dominant colour

La Traversee (The Passage) is a 1882 graphite by Félix-Hilaire Buhot, a Impressionism work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Félix-Hilaire Buhot
When & what style?: 1882 · Impressionism
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This etching depicts a busy scene of people on a ship. The passengers are gathered on the deck, some standing at the railing while others sit on benches. In the foreground, a man is shown sitting on the stairs, looking out at the water. The artist has used a range of techniques to create texture and depth in the image, including etching, drypoint, and roulette. The use of soft-ground etching adds a sense of softness to the scene, while the graphite notations provide additional detail and texture. The image is a great example of the Impressionist and Realist movements, which emphasized everyday life and realistic depictions of the world. To learn more about the techniques used in this etching, look up the technique of drypoint.