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The Wave (L'Onda)

Luigi Conconi

1896

ink

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Impressionism Realism Late 19th Century

Dominant colour

The Wave (L'Onda) is a 1896 ink by Luigi Conconi, a Impressionism work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Luigi Conconi
When & what style?: 1896 · Impressionism
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This sketch shows a giant, ghostly wave towering over a small boat. The wave’s crest curls like a monster’s claw, swallowing the vessel whole. The sky is dark and swirling, with only a sliver of moon peeking through the chaos. The artist used ink to create deep shadows and rough textures, making the wave look almost alive. The boat’s details fade as it’s pulled under, adding to the sense of danger. Next, look up etching to see how artists like this one carve into metal plates to make prints.