The Longshoremen's Noon
1886
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1886
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This black-and-white scene shows a group of rough-looking men lounging on a dock. Some sit on barrels or crates, others lean against a ship’s hull or a wooden staircase. A few hold pipes or cards, while others just stare or chat. The background has ropes, barrels, and a faint glimpse of a ship’s rigging. The whole thing looks drawn by hand, with rough lines and shading. Notice how the artist used tiny parallel lines to build up shadows and textures—this is called cross-hatching. It gives the scene a gritty, almost sketchy feel. If you like this style, look up technique: cross-hatching.
