Who painted Fisherman on the Lakeshore [Pescatore sulla riva del lago]?

Fisherman on the Lakeshore [Pescatore sulla riva del lago] was painted by Antonio Fontanesi.

Where can I see Fisherman on the Lakeshore [Pescatore sulla riva del lago]?

Fisherman on the Lakeshore [Pescatore sulla riva del lago] is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Fisherman on the Lakeshore [Pescatore sulla riva del lago]?

Fisherman on the Lakeshore [Pescatore sulla riva del lago] is associated with Impressionism.

Can I buy a print of Fisherman on the Lakeshore [Pescatore sulla riva del lago]?

Museum-quality prints of Fisherman on the Lakeshore [Pescatore sulla riva del lago] are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Fisherman on the Lakeshore [Pescatore sulla riva del lago]

Antonio Fontanesi

Fisherman on the Lakeshore [Pescatore sulla riva del lago] is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Antonio Fontanesi. It is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

Inscription: Inscribed:by later hand, verso upper right, in graphite: Delt. / v / D. 60 I/II / intermedio/ forse piu / ridutto lastro

About this work

Overview

Antonio Fontanesi’s print titled Fisherman on the Lakeshore (Italian: Pescatore sulla riva del lago) is an etching executed around 1864. The work measures the solitary figure of a fisherman perched on a rock, his line extending into the placid water, while a sparse arrangement of trees and reeds outlines the shoreline.

Subject & Meaning

The composition captures a quiet moment of labor and contemplation, emphasizing the isolation of the fisherman against a muted landscape. The bare trees and tangled branches suggest a remote, perhaps wintery setting, inviting reflection on the relationship between human activity and the natural environment.

Technique & Style

Created by etching on chine collé, the artist incised lines into a metal plate, allowing ink to fill the grooves and produce nuanced shadows. The quick, sketch‑like strokes that render the water’s surface and the rocky shore convey a sense of immediacy, a characteristic approach among mid‑nineteenth‑century printmakers seeking to record transient natural scenes.

History & Provenance

The print dates to the mid‑1860s, a period when Fontanesi was active in Italy’s evolving print culture. While specific ownership records are limited, the work survives as a proof prior to the addition of lettering, indicating it was part of the artist’s preparatory process before final publication.