Artwork
A Reach of the Hardangerfi-ord
A Reach of the Hardangerfi-ord is a print by the Romanticist artist Edward Price. It dates from 1834 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
Edward Price’s print A Reach of the Hardangerfjord is part of a bound volume of twenty‑one prints, each accompanied by explanatory text. The book is covered in brown leather that matches its outer case, presenting the work as one element of a curated series of landscape images.
Subject & Meaning
The image depicts a rugged, mountainous coastline where steep, rocky peaks descend toward a broad expanse of water. Dark, cloud‑laden skies loom overhead, suggesting an approaching storm, while foreground rocks and sparse vegetation give the scene depth and a sense of natural grandeur.
Technique & Style
Executed in print, the work employs strong chiaroscuro, contrasting luminous highlights against deep shadows to model the terrain and amplify the atmospheric tension. The interplay of light and dark creates a three‑dimensional effect that emphasizes the dramatic interplay between land, sea, and sky.
History & Provenance
The print belonged to the Lennox‑Boyd collection, a notable assemblage of British mezzotints and assorted printed materials. Acquired by the Victoria and Albert Museum in 2015 through an inheritance‑tax settlement, the collection also contains 18th‑century picture frames, historic women’s shoes, fans, printed handkerchiefs and other ephemera, reflecting the dealer’s broad interests.
Context
Lennox‑Boyd expanded his holdings by developing Sanders of Oxford into a leading dealer of fine prints, maps, engravings and etchings. Within this milieu, Price’s landscape print illustrates the 19th‑century fascination with dramatic natural scenery and the technical possibilities of printmaking for conveying atmospheric effects.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Edward Price was a British printmaker in the early 1800s who etched Norwegian landscapes from a trip in 1834.
