Artwork
The French Cruiser
The French Cruiser is an ink print by Childe Hassam. It dates from 1918 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:lower right on stone: Childe Hassam May 18th 1918; lower right in graphite: [the artist's monogram]; lower left edge in green colored pencil: 1166 [circled]; lower left edge in graphite by unknown hand: French Cruiser; upper left verso in graphite by unknown hand: #19; lower right verso in red colored pencil by unknown hand: [check mark]
About this work
The ship’s sharp edges cut through rippling water, lit by strong contrasts of black and white.
This black-and-white print shows a French warship from high above. The ship’s sharp edges cut through rippling water, lit by strong contrasts of black and white.
Hassam made this in 1918, during World War I. He used lithography, a process where ink sticks to a stone slab before pressing onto paper. The grainy paper adds texture to the water.
Look for the original at the National Gallery of Art, Washington.
Overview
The French Cruiser is a 1918 lithograph by Childe Hassam, depicting a French warship from an aerial perspective amidst rippling water.
Subject & Meaning
The subject is a French warship during World War I, conveyed through stark contrasts of light and dark, emphasizing the vessel's presence.
Technique & Style
Hassam employed lithography, utilizing a stone slab and ink to achieve dynamic tonal contrasts. The wove paper's grain enhances the textured, impressionistic rendering of the water.
History & Provenance
Created in 1918, the work is now part of the National Gallery of Art's collection in Washington.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Frederick Childe Hassam (; October 17, 1859 – August 27, 1935) was an American Impressionist painter, noted for his urban and coastal scenes.
