Seascape with a woman on the shore

1800

From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum

Dominant colour

Seascape with a woman on the shore is a 1800 by David Cox, a Romanticism work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.

Who painted this?: David Cox
When & what style?: 1800 · Romanticism
Where can I see it?: Victoria and Albert Museum

About this work

This sketch shows a stormy sea with rough waves crashing against jagged rocks. In the distance, a lone figure stands on the shore, small against the wild scene. The sky is dark and swirling, while the water looks choppy and full of motion. The artist used quick, sketchy lines to show the energy of the waves and wind. The paper looks worn, like the drawing was done fast—maybe while watching the real storm. If you like this style, check out cross-hatching to see how artists build texture with lines.

The story of this work

Overview

The charcoal drawing depicts a seascape featuring a woman standing on the shore in the foreground.

Read the full account in the museum source.

About the artist

Artist

David Cox

David Cox (29 April 1783 – 7 June 1859) was an English landscape painter, one of the most important members of the Birmingham School of landscape artists and an early precursor of Impressionism.

See the richer artist page