Artwork
A Felucca on the Nile, loading cotton
A Felucca on the Nile, loading cotton is a watercolor work on paper by Bridget Keir. It dates from 1922 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
A Felucca on the Nile, loading cotton is a 1922 watercolour by Bridget Keir, capturing a serene scene of a traditional Nile sailing vessel in the process of loading cotton.
Subject & Meaning
The subject is a felucca, a traditional Egyptian sailing boat, depicted on calm Nile waters with a figure in blue attire and white bundles (likely cotton sacks) on board, conveying a sense of everyday activity in early 20th-century Egypt.
Technique & Style
Executed with quick, light strokes, the watercolour maintains a loose, observational quality, characterized by soft color palette, with notable accents of blue in the figure and sky, set against a pale, understated background.
History & Provenance
Initially exhibited at Walker's Gallery in 1922 as part of The Sands And Waters Of Egypt exhibition, the piece was later owned by Archdeacon Smythe, as documented by Rodney Searight.
Artist & collection
Artist
Bridget Keir painted lively watercolours of the Nile in the 1920s. In A Felucca on the Nile, loading cotton you can almost feel the heat on the deck as the boat glides past sun-bleached banks. Their works capture the…
