Moonlight at Low Tide

About this work

This etching shows a quiet beach at night, with waves glowing under moonlight. The artist used aquatint, a tricky way to make ink hold smooth dark areas. It’s not a photo. The lines stay soft, like the light itself. He made this in the 1880s when night scenes were new and spooky. Etching lets him scratch lines into metal, then ink the plate. The paper shows the marks, not just color. Look for more of his work at the National Gallery of Art, Washington.