Artwork
A traveller confronted by crocodiles
A traveller confronted by crocodiles is a watercolor work on paper by the Orientalist artist Ernest Griset. It dates from 1850 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
Ernest Griset’s 1850 watercolour presents a solitary traveler confronting a line of crocodiles on a muddy bank. The figure, equipped with a wide‑brimmed hat, rifle and notebook, stands in shallow water while the reptiles gape with exposed teeth. Griset’s signature is visible on the work, confirming its authorship.
Subject & Meaning
The composition juxtaposes human composure against the latent threat of the crocodiles, highlighting a moment of uneasy encounter in an exotic landscape. The traveler’s calm stance, despite the predators’ open jaws, suggests a narrative of observation or scientific curiosity rather than immediate danger.
Technique & Style
Griset employs loose washes of watercolor to convey atmosphere, allowing pigments to blend softly while preserving the sketchy quality of the scene. Rapid pencil strokes suggest surrounding reeds or grass, and the contrast between the figure’s smooth lines and the crocodiles’ jagged forms emphasizes movement and tension.
History & Provenance
Created in 1850, the work is part of Griset’s broader output of animal studies and travel scenes. It now belongs to the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum, where it is displayed as an example of mid‑nineteenth‑century British watercolor practice.
Artist & collection
Artist
Ernest Henri Griset (24 August 1843, Boulogne-sur-Mer, – 22 March 1907, London) was a French-born painter and illustrator noted for the humorous interpretations of his subjects.
