Artwork
A Good Catch
A Good Catch is an ink print by the Impressionist artist William De La Montagne Cary. It dates from 1892 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
“A Good Catch,” executed in 1892, is an etching on chine collé mounted on heavy wove paper. The work is attributed to American printmaker William De La Montagne Cary, a prolific figure who produced more than two hundred etchings during his career. The piece measures roughly 30 × 20 cm and is catalogued as a single‑sheet print.
Subject & Meaning
The composition depicts a rustic figure in period attire, holding a sizable fish aloft while a small dog leaps at his side. The man’s subdued smile conveys a quiet pride in his haul, suggesting a moment of everyday triumph. The scene captures a fleeting, domestic episode that resonates with themes of labor, leisure, and the bond between human and animal.
Technique & Style
Cary achieved the image through delicate line work, employing fine, cross‑hatched strokes to render the fish’s scales with a glistening, almost wet appearance.
Cary achieved the image through delicate line work, employing fine, cross‑hatched strokes to render the fish’s scales with a glistening, almost wet appearance. Subtle gradations of tone create depth, while the chine collé paper contributes a textured surface that enhances the tactile quality of the print. The overall style reflects the late‑19th‑century American etching revival, emphasizing realism and meticulous detail.
History & Provenance
First exhibited shortly after its completion, the print entered the collection of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., where it remains part of the museum’s American prints holdings. Documentation indicates it was acquired by the gallery in the mid‑20th century as part of a broader acquisition of Cary’s work, underscoring his significance within the period’s printmaking circles.
Context
Created during a period of renewed interest in etching as an artistic medium, “A Good Catch” aligns with contemporary trends that favored genre scenes of rural life. Cary’s choice of subject reflects the era’s fascination with the dignity of ordinary labor, a motif frequently explored by his peers in the American Arts and Crafts movement.
Artist & collection
