1889
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Dramas of the Sea: A Descent into the Maelstrom (Les drames de la mer: une descente dans le maelstrom) is a 1889 ink by Paul Gauguin, a Impressionism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This print shows a chaotic, swirling sea with dark shapes tangled in the waves. In the distance, a lone ship struggles against the storm. The colors are mostly black, yellow, and gray, making the scene feel rough and wild. The title hints at a story of danger at sea, but the faces and figures are hard to make out. The artist used a printing method that lets the ink spread unevenly, adding to the stormy feel. Look up lithography to see how this printing technique works.
Eugène Henri Paul Gauguin (; French: ; 7 June 1848 – 8 May 1903) was a French painter, sculptor, printmaker, ceramist, and writer, whose work has been primarily associated with the Post-Impressionist and Symbolist movements.
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