Artwork

Six Marines: Radoub d'une barque à marée basse

Six Marines:  Radoub d'une barque à marée basse, by Eugène Isabey, 1833
Six Marines:  Radoub d'une barque à marée basse, by Eugène Isabey, 1833

Six Marines: Radoub d'une barque à marée basse is a print by the Romanticist artist Eugène Isabey. It dates from 1833 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Six Marines: Radoub d'une barque à marée basse, created by Eugène Isabey in 1833, is a print capturing a maritime scene of everyday life, characteristic of the French Romantic style.

Subject & Meaning

The print depicts six sailors engaged in the laborious task of repairing and hauling a small boat stranded on a muddy shore at low tide, set against a dramatic backdrop of a burning boat, somber houses, and cliffs. The scene reflects Isabey's fascination with maritime themes and the mundane, yet dramatic, aspects of sailors' lives.

Technique & Style

Isabey employs the Romantic style, blending vivid narrative details with expressive atmospheric effects, evident in the contrast between the smoky, dramatic sky and the intense activity of the sailors, highlighting his ability to merge the ordinary with the dramatic.

History & Provenance

Created in 1833, the work is now part of The Cleveland Museum of Art's collection, showcasing Isabey's contribution to French Romanticism as a painter, lithographer, and watercolorist.

Context

Within the broader context of French Romanticism, this piece aligns with the movement's emphasis on capturing dramatic moments from everyday life, reflecting Isabey's role as a leading figure in this artistic trend.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Eugène Isabey

Artist

Eugène Isabey

Eugène Louis Gabriel Isabey (French pronunciation: ; 22 July 1803 – 25 April 1886) was a French painter, lithographer and watercolorist in the Romantic style.

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: Cleveland Museum of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.