Artwork
The Moored Boat (La Barque amarree)
The Moored Boat (La Barque amarree) is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Johan Jongkind. It dates from 1862 and is held in the collection of the Rosenwald Collection. Johan Barthold Jongkind’s 1862 etching titled The Moored Boat (La Barque amarrée) presents a tranquil harbor scene.
About this work
Overview
Johan Barthold Jongkind’s 1862 etching titled The Moored Boat (La Barque amarrée) presents a tranquil harbor scene. A modest, two‑masted vessel rests beside a simple wooden shed on a still water surface, while a handful of figures stand on the shore observing the boat. The composition captures a moment of quiet activity in a coastal setting.
Subject & Meaning
The work focuses on everyday maritime life, emphasizing the calm after a day's labor. The presence of the docked boat and the modest shed suggests a functional, working harbor rather than a grand port, while the onlookers convey a sense of community engagement with the vessels that sustain local livelihood.
Technique & Style
Executed as an etching, the image relies on swift, gestural lines that convey immediacy. Jongkind employs varied hatching to model light and shadow on the sails, the shed’s roof, and the water’s surface, creating a subtle tonal contrast. The overall effect is sketch‑like, retaining the spontaneity of a preliminary study rather than a finished, polished print.
History & Provenance
Created in 1862, the etching belongs to the period when Jongkind was refining his approach to atmospheric effects and marine subjects. While specific ownership records are limited, the piece reflects the artist’s broader interest in coastal scenes that informed later developments in European landscape and marine art.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Johan Barthold Jongkind (Dutch pronunciation:; 3 June 1819 – 9 February 1891) was a Dutch painter and printmaker. He painted marine landscapes in a free manner and is regarded as a forerunner of impressionism.
