Artwork
Fishing Boats and Shack
Fishing Boats and Shack is a graphite drawing by the Romanticist artist Henry Farrer. It dates from 1873 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Fishing Boats and Shack is a graphite drawing on wove paper executed by American artist Henry Farrer in 1873. The work presents a quiet riverside scene, depicting modest fishing vessels anchored near a simple shelter, rendered in fine tonal gradations characteristic of Farrer’s draftsmanship.
Technique & Style
Farrer employed graphite to achieve a range of values, from delicate hatching to deep, velvety shadows, emphasizing the texture of water and the weathered surfaces of the boats and shack. The drawing’s precise line work and subtle modeling reflect the artist’s training in illustration and his interest in realistic, observational renderings of everyday subjects.
History & Provenance
Created in the early 1870s, the piece belongs to a period when Farrer was establishing his reputation as a leading draughtsman in the United States. While specific ownership records are limited, the drawing has been documented in catalogues of Farrer’s oeuvre and is held in public collections that focus on 19th‑century American drawing.
Artist & collection
Artist
Henry Farrer was an English-born American artist known for his tonalist watercolor landscapes and etchings.
