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Figures by the Shore

James Goodwyn Clonney

1832

graphite

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Romanticism Early 19th Century Landscape

Dominant colour

Figures by the Shore is a 1832 graphite by James Goodwyn Clonney, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: James Goodwyn Clonney
When & what style?: 1832 · Romanticism
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This sketch shows two small figures standing near a rocky shore. Behind them, a tangled tree with twisted branches grows on a grassy slope. The water looks shallow, with a few scattered rocks in the foreground. The artist used quick, light pencil strokes to suggest movement and nature’s wildness. The figures are tiny compared to the landscape, making the scene feel vast. Next, look up Romanticism to see how artists used nature to express big emotions.