Shipping
1790
watercolor
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
1790
watercolor
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
Dominant colour
Shipping is a 1790 watercolor by William Alexander, a Biedermeier work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.
This painting shows a busy harbor scene with tall sailing ships on choppy water. The ships have multiple masts and billowing sails, some closer to the shore while others sit farther out. The sky is cloudy and pale, blending into the sea’s grayish-blue waves. The artist used soft, blended colors to show light and distance, making the ships look far off. The brushstrokes are loose, giving the water a rough, moving texture. Look up Romanticism next to see how artists used emotion and nature in their work.
