Artwork
A Man and Two Women on a Rocky Shore
A Man and Two Women on a Rocky Shore is a graphite drawing by the Baroque artist Jean-Baptiste Le Prince. It dates from 1765 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Jean‑Baptiste Le Prince’s drawing titled *A Man and Two Women on a Rocky Shore* dates from around 1765. Executed in graphite on vellum, the work presents a small group of figures positioned on a craggy coastline, rendered with the delicate line work typical of 18th‑century French drawing.
Technique & Style
The artist employed graphite, a medium prized for its capacity to produce fine gradations of tone, applied to vellum—a smooth, translucent calfskin surface. This combination allows for precise, controlled strokes that convey both the texture of the rocky terrain and the subtle modeling of the figures, reflecting Le Prince’s skill in draftsmanship.
Context
Created during the mid‑1760s, the drawing aligns with the period’s growing interest in genre scenes that depict everyday life in natural settings. Le Prince, known for his interest in Russian subjects and pastoral themes, often explored the interaction between humans and landscape, a concern evident in this composition.
Artist & collection
