Artwork
Egypt and Nubia, Volume II: Hagar Setsilis

Egypt and Nubia, Volume II: Hagar Setsilis is a print by the Romanticist artist Louis Haghe. It dates from 1847 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Louis Haghe’s 1847 lithograph, titled *Egypt and Nubia, Volume II: Hagar Setsilis*, presents a tranquil river scene at dusk. Two slender, sail‑driven vessels glide across the water toward a hazy horizon, while figures on the bank engage in fishing or repose. The sky is rendered in soft, cloud‑filled tones, its warm glow mirrored on the river’s surface, creating a calm, atmospheric composition.
Subject & Meaning
The image captures a moment of everyday life along an Egyptian or Nubian waterway, emphasizing the harmony between human activity and the natural environment. The leisurely posture of the shore‑side figures and the gentle motion of the boats suggest a peaceful routine, inviting contemplation of the region’s riverine culture and the quiet rhythms of travel and subsistence.
Technique & Style
Executed as a lithograph, the work showcases Haghe’s expertise in fine line work and tonal gradation, hallmarks of early Victorian printmaking.
Executed as a lithograph, the work showcases Haghe’s expertise in fine line work and tonal gradation, hallmarks of early Victorian printmaking. Delicate hatching conveys the subtle play of light on water and sailcloth, while broader washes suggest atmospheric depth. The composition reflects Romantic sensibilities, prioritising mood and the evocative qualities of landscape over strict documentary detail.
History & Provenance
Born in Belgium in 1806, Louis Haghe established himself in London as a leading lithographer, co‑founding the Day & Haghe firm, a major source of illustrated publications in the 1830s‑1850s. *Egypt and Nubia, Volume II* formed part of a larger series illustrating the region’s scenery and monuments. The print entered the Cleveland Museum of Art’s collection, where it remains on view.
Context
The series was produced during a period of heightened European interest in Egypt and Nubia, spurred by archaeological discoveries and expanding travel narratives. Haghe’s prints catered to a market eager for visual accounts of exotic locales, providing both artistic representation and informational content that complemented contemporary travel literature and scholarly works.
Artist & collection
Artist
Louis Haghe (17 March 1806 – 9 March 1885) was a lithographer and watercolourist from the Netherlands and then the United Kingdom.















