Artwork
River Landscape with Figures and a Boat at Water's Edge
River Landscape with Figures and a Boat at Water's Edge is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Nicolas Pérignon. It dates from 1768 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Nicolas Pérignon’s etching, dated 1768, presents a tranquil river scene rendered on laid paper. The composition balances natural elements—a winding waterway, scattered tree islands, and a distant church steeple—with human activity, as a small boat carrying three figures glides near the bank.
Subject & Meaning
The work juxtaposes the serenity of the landscape with the presence of travelers, suggesting a moment of pause in a pastoral journey. The solitary tree on the left bank and the modest church in the background anchor the scene in a rural setting, while the boat hints at movement and human interaction with nature.
Technique & Style
Pérignon employs fine, closely spaced lines to convey the rippling surface of the water and the delicate foliage of the trees. The etching’s tonal gradations, achieved through varied line density, create a subtle sense of light and atmosphere, reflecting the conventions of mid‑eighteenth‑century printmaking.
Context
Created during a period when landscape prints were popular among collectors, this piece exemplifies the era’s interest in depicting idyllic countryside views. The inclusion of architectural elements such as the church steeple aligns the work with contemporary tastes for integrating human‑made landmarks within natural vistas.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
The Potager of the Hôtel de Valentinois in Passy
Town on a River Bank with Two Round Towers
House with a Dovecote in a Rolling Landscape
A Low Cottage with a Herdsman Leading His Flock
A Cottage with Two Men Seated at the Doorway
Horses Being Led to Water on a Winding Riverbank
A House and a Shaded Cottage on the Banks of a River
Roman Landscape
Traveler Passing Two Large Trees
Banks of the Venelle (Bord de la Venelle)
The Cudgel Dam and Covered Bridge
The Vision (L'apparition)
Two Boats on a Wide River
Rock in the Middle of a River
Rider and Flock on a Bridge
Albury
Banks of the Venelle (Bord de la Venelle)
View of the Ancient Port of Phaleron, Athens
Man with a Punt, Figure to the Right (Pecheurs des truites)