Artwork
La Drague Dieppe (A Dredger in Dieppe Harbor by Moonlight)
La Drague Dieppe (A Dredger in Dieppe Harbor by Moonlight) is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Henri-Charles Guérard. It dates from 1885 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created circa 1885 by French artist Henri‑Charles Guérard, *La Drague Dieppe* is a color etching and aquatint executed in blue and black on laid paper. The print portrays a nocturnal harbor scene in Dieppe, focusing on a dredging apparatus illuminated by moonlight.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on a large wooden wheel and metal framework positioned at the water’s edge, identifiable as part of a dredger. Moonlight spreads a pale blue sheen across the water, while distant cranes and ships appear as muted silhouettes, suggesting the quiet, industrial rhythm of a night‑time port.
Technique & Style
Guérard combines precise line work with broad aquatint washes, allowing the delicate blue tones to convey atmosphere while the black outlines define the machinery and architecture. The interplay of sharp edges and soft tonal fields creates a balance between documentary detail and a dream‑like, almost spectral ambience.
History & Provenance
The artist, known for his dedication to printmaking, produced this work during a period when he was exploring the possibilities of etching and lithography. It reflects his broader interest in maritime subjects and industrial scenes, typical of his output in the mid‑1880s.
Artist & collection
Artist
Henri Charles Guérard (26 April 1846, Paris - 24 March 1897, Paris) was a French painter and printmaker, particularly in etching and lithography.
