Entretat
July, 1858
Medium
Pen and brown ink, with brush and brown wash and white gouache, over traces of graphite, on blue wove paper
Dimensions
17.3 × 25.2 cm (6 13/16 × 9 15/16 in.)
Classification
pen and ink drawings
Department
Prints and Drawings
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
83329
Art Historical Context
Clarkson Stanfield’s “Entretat,” created in July 1858, captures the dramatic Normandy coastline that would later inspire generations of artists. A leading British marine painter of the Romantic era, Stanfield specialized in seascapes and coastal views that emphasized the power and beauty of nature. This intimate drawing likely records a moment from one of his sketching tours abroad, offering visitors a glimpse of Étretat’s iconic cliffs before the site became synonymous with Impressionism. Executed in pen and brown ink with brush washes and white gouache on blue paper, the work demonstrates S...