Artwork
Fishing boats on the beach at Nice, with Antibes in the distance
Fishing boats on the beach at Nice, with Antibes in the distance is a drawing by the Romanticist artist Edward William Cooke. It dates from 1845 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
The waves are simple lines, and the boats look half-empty, with ropes and nets tangled around them.
This sketch shows two small boats pulled up on a sandy beach. The waves are simple lines, and the boats look half-empty, with ropes and nets tangled around them. In the background, a town sits on a hill, barely sketched in.
The artist signed it "E.W.Cooke" and dated it August 25, 1845. The boats are drawn fast, almost like quick notes—no extra details, just the main shapes.
Want to know more? Check out the Victoria and Albert Museum to see this drawing in person.
Overview
Fishing boats on the beach at Nice, with Antibes in the distance is a pencil drawing created by Edward Cooke in 1845. The work captures a serene coastal scene.
Subject & Meaning
The drawing depicts two small fishing boats beached on a sandy shore, with a distant hillside town, likely Antibes, visible in the background. The simple, expressive rendering conveys a sense of tranquility.
Technique & Style
Cooke's sketch is characterized by rapid, gestural lines, with the boats and waves reduced to their essential forms. The background town is suggested with minimal detail, emphasizing the artist's focus on capturing the overall atmosphere.
History & Provenance
The drawing is signed 'E.W.Cooke' and dated August 25, 1845, providing a precise record of its creation. It is held by the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Artist & collection
