Artwork
Marine
Marine is a print by the Impressionist artist Edouard Manet. It dates from 1864 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Édouard Manet’s 1864 work titled Marine is a print that belongs to the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. The image captures a small boat in distress amid turbulent water, with two figures clinging to a barrel and a piece of timber while a larger vessel passes in the distance under a partly clouded sky.
Subject & Meaning
The composition presents a moment of survival: the occupants of the capsized boat are shown grasping makeshift flotation devices, emphasizing the immediacy of danger and the human instinct to cling to any support. The distant ship, indifferent to the struggle, underscores a contrast between personal peril and broader maritime activity.
Technique & Style
Manet renders the scene with clean, bold lines that give the print a sketch‑like quality. The water’s surface is suggested through simple, rhythmic strokes rather than elaborate detailing, allowing the viewer to focus on the stark arrangement of figures and objects rather than on decorative flourish.
History & Provenance
Created in 1864, Marine entered the Cleveland Museum of Art’s holdings at an unspecified date, where it remains part of the museum’s print and drawing collection. Its presence in an American institution reflects the broader 19th‑century interest in Manet’s work beyond France.
Artist & collection
Artist
Édouard Manet didn’t have much time to make his mark—he died at 51—but he used every year.
