Shipwreck

1840

Alexandre Calame

Associated Names
Alexandre Calame
Artist, Swiss, 1810 - 1864
The image shows a seascape with powerful waves crashing around. The horizon is high in the image, where the sea meets the sky. The scene depicts a turbulent atmosphere. The brushstrokes are intense and swirling, capturing the movement of the water and clouds. The color palette is mainly black and gray. Three figures are depicted on a rocky outcrop or wave crest, with one figure raising their arms.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    etching with roulette on chine collé

  • Credit Line

    Ailsa Mellon Bruce Fund

  • Dimensions

    plate: 10.9 x 8.1 cm (4 5/16 x 3 3/16 in.)
    sheet: 35.2 x 26.2 cm (13 7/8 x 10 5/16 in.)

  • Accession Number

    2009.129.22

  • Catalogue Raisonné

    Calabi 1937, no. II, 16

  • Series Title

    Essais de gravure à l'eau forte par Alexandre Calame, II, pl. 29

Associated Artworks

See all 45 artworks

Title Page / Title Page

Alexandre Calame
1838

Essais de gravure à l'eau forte par Alexandre Calame, I-IV

Alexandre Calame
1838
The image depicts a landscape seen from a slightly elevated viewpoint overlooking a body of water towards a cluster of trees. The horizon appears high in the composition with the sky above. The scene shows trees, a hill, water, and hills in the distance. The artwork uses detailed etching techniques with fine hatched lines to create texture and depth. The color scheme is monochromatic, mostly sepia or dark tones. In the foreground, intricate details are visible in the trees and water.

Trees by a River

Alexandre Calame
1838

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

(Daniela Laube Inc. Fine Art, New York); purchased 2009 by NGA.

Associated Names

Bibliography

1937

  • Calabi, A., and A. Schreiber-Favre. "Les eaux-fortes et les lithographies d'Alexandre Calame " Die graphischen Kunste 2 (1937): II, 16

2009

  • Daniela Laube Fine Art, Catalogue 6, 2009. no. 22.

Inscriptions

along right edge in plate: A Calame pinx et aqua fort Geneve 1840; by later hand in graphite: 1840 Calabi II, 16

Wikidata ID

Q76555011

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