Artwork

Coastal View (A Foreboding of Sadness)

Coastal View (A Foreboding of Sadness), by Vittore Grubicy, ink, 1894
Coastal View (A Foreboding of Sadness), by Vittore Grubicy, ink, 1894

Coastal View (A Foreboding of Sadness) is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Vittore Grubicy. It dates from 1894 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Coastal View (A Foreboding of Sadness) is a 1894 etching with monotype wiping by Vittore Grubicy, executed in sepia on wove paper. The work is part of the collection at the National Gallery of Art in Washington.

Subject & Meaning

The print depicts a somber seascape with a turbulent sky, low-hanging dark clouds, choppy waters, and a shoreline of tangled reeds and rocks. The atmosphere is characterized by quiet tension, anticipating an impending storm. A few birds are shown in flight near the waves.

Technique & Style

Grubicy achieved the work's textured, layered appearance through a scratchy etching technique, resulting in a mix of sharp and smudged lines. The handmade quality of the print is emphasized by its rough, non-uniform surface, distinct from smooth painted works.

History & Provenance

Created in 1894, the etching is now held in the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.

Context

The piece reflects late 19th-century artistic explorations of mood and atmosphere in landscape, often associated with the broader European movements of the time that emphasized emotional depth in natural settings.

Legacy

While specific influences of 'Coastal View' on subsequent artists are not widely documented, it contributes to the understanding of late 19th-century printmaking techniques and the expression of foreboding in landscape art of the period.

Artist & collection

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