Artwork
La barque
La barque is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Noël Le Mire. It dates from 1777 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
La barque is an 1777 print by French artist Noël Le Mire, executed as an engraving combined with etching. The work presents a compact scene of a small boat navigating choppy water, rendered entirely in monochrome tones that emphasize line and texture over colour.
Subject & Meaning
The composition features a standing male figure grasping a long pole, presumably to steer, while a seated woman looks upward with her hands raised, suggesting a moment of shared tension or anticipation. The distant shoreline, marked by trees and mountains beneath a cloudy sky, frames the intimate drama of the two figures.
Technique & Style
Le Mire employed a mixture of engraving and etching, allowing for both precise, incised lines and softer, tonal washes. The predominance of gray shades and dense cross‑hatching creates a sense of movement in the water and atmospheric depth, aligning the piece with the expressive qualities later associated with Romantic landscape prints.
History & Provenance
Created in the late eighteenth century, La barque reflects the period’s growing interest in atmospheric scenes and the technical possibilities of printmaking. While specific ownership records are scarce, the work is catalogued among Le Mire’s known prints and has been referenced in studies of pre‑Romantic French engraving.
Artist & collection
