The Mouth of the Thames—Isle of Sheppey in Distance
1891
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1891
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This print shows three old sailing ships struggling in choppy water. The waves crash high, and the sky is dark with heavy clouds. The ships look small against the rough sea, their sails partly unfurled. The artist used shading to make the storm feel real, focusing on light and dark contrasts. This style was common in the late 1800s for capturing nature’s power. Look up technique: chiaroscuro to see how artists use light and shadow like this.
