Artwork
Petit Port--La Corniche, Marseilles
Petit Port--La Corniche, Marseilles is an ink print by Paul Gangolf. It dates from 1928 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Paul Gangolf’s 1928 soft‑ground etching titled *Petit Port—La Corniche, Marseilles* presents a compact view of the Marseille harbor district. Executed as a proof, the print offers a preliminary impression of the composition before a final edition was struck. The work measures the bustling urban fabric of the port, rendered in a densely packed arrangement of structures and streets.
Subject & Meaning
The image captures a tightly clustered cityscape where buildings appear to lean and intersect in a seemingly chaotic fashion. The composition emphasizes the vitality and disorder of a working harbor, suggesting the constant movement and layered history of Marseille’s waterfront. The tangled forms convey a sense of urban intensity rather than an idealized panorama.
Technique & Style
Created with soft‑ground etching, the artist applied a pliable ground to the plate, allowing textured lines to be drawn directly with a brush or stylus.
Created with soft‑ground etching, the artist applied a pliable ground to the plate, allowing textured lines to be drawn directly with a brush or stylus. The resulting marks are irregular and slightly wavering, giving the streets and façades a sketch‑like quality. The proof’s dark, densely inked areas contrast with the lighter, scratched‑out spaces, reinforcing the work’s rough, immediate character.
History & Provenance
This proof was produced in 1928, the same year Gangolf completed the plate. As a test impression, it was likely retained by the artist or his studio to assess the tonal balance before issuing a limited edition. The print has since entered private collections, documenting an early stage in Gangolf’s exploration of urban subjects through printmaking.
Artist & collection
