1910
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Dominant colour
Christ Walking on the Water is a 1910 ink by Henry Ossawa Tanner, held at National Gallery of Art.
Henry Ossawa Tanner’s etching shows Christ in a small boat, one hand outstretched over stormy waves. The dark lines catch the wind in the sails and the choppy water below. Tanner was one of the first Black American artists to gain fame in Europe, and this scene feels quiet but urgent. He uses drypoint here, scratching fine lines into the plate so the ink holds extra darks. The waves look almost like living things around Christ’s feet. Look up Tanner’s drypoint technique next.
Henry Ossawa Tanner (June 21, 1859 – May 25, 1937) was an American artist who spent much of his career in France.
See the richer artist page
