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A Cove with a Sailboat

Félix Ziem

1866

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Romanticism Late 19th Century Landscape

Dominant colour

A Cove with a Sailboat is a 1866 ink by Félix Ziem, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Félix Ziem
When & what style?: 1866 · Romanticism
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This sketch shows a rough, wavy line at the bottom that looks like water. Above it, a few quick, jagged marks suggest hills or cliffs. Tiny scribbles in the distance might be a sailboat and a few buildings, barely there. The lines are uneven, like they were drawn fast—some thick, some faint, with a few red marks near the bottom. The loose, sketchy style feels more like notes than a finished picture. It’s almost like the artist was testing ideas or just doodling thoughts. If you like this quick, expressive style, look up cross-hatching next.