Artwork
Ebb Tide, Putney Bridge
Ebb Tide, Putney Bridge is a print by the Impressionist artist Frank Short. It dates from 1885 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1885, *Ebb Tide, Putney Bridge* is an intaglio print by the British artist Frank Short. The composition captures a tranquil river scene at dusk, with a bridge spanning the water, a lone boat near the shore, and distant buildings rendered as dark silhouettes against a faint, hazy sky. The overall effect is one of subdued light and quiet atmosphere.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a everyday riverside view of Putney Bridge, emphasizing the transition between day and night. By focusing on the subtle interplay of light and shadow, Short conveys a sense of calm and contemplation, reflecting the late‑19th‑century interest in ordinary landscapes as vehicles for mood and poetic reflection.
Technique & Style
Short employed a combination of mezzotint and aquatint within the intaglio process, allowing him to achieve the soft, smoky tonal gradations that dominate the scene. The delicate handling of dark silhouettes and luminous sky demonstrates his skill in manipulating surface texture to render atmospheric effects, a hallmark of his printmaking practice.
History & Provenance
Frank Short later became a leading authority on British etching, serving as president of the Royal Society of Painter‑Etchers & Engravers and influencing printmaking education through his writings and teaching. *Ebb Tide, Putney Bridge* exemplifies the period when Short was establishing his reputation, and it remains part of the broader legacy of late‑19th‑century British printmaking.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Sir Francis Job Short PPRE (19 June 1857 – 22 April 1945) was a British printmaker and teacher of printmaking.
