Artwork
Fish-Houses
Fish-Houses is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Charles A. Platt. It dates from 1881 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Charles A.
About this work
Overview
Charles A. Platt’s 1881 print titled Fish‑Houses is an etching executed on wove paper. The work presents a tranquil waterfront scene, rendered in black ink, and measures the modest scale typical of Platt’s early prints.
Subject & Meaning
The composition depicts a cluster of modest wooden structures with sloping roofs and chimneys, set along a calm riverbank. Small boats are moored nearby, and the water’s surface is rendered with gentle, unembellished lines, suggesting a quiet, everyday maritime environment.
Technique & Style
Platt employed the traditional etching process, incising his design into a metal plate before applying ink and pressing it onto paper. The resulting marks are loose and sketch‑like, emphasizing texture and depth through varied line work rather than precise detailing.
History & Provenance
Created in 1881, Fish‑Houses belongs to the early period of Platt’s artistic output, prior to his later reputation as an architect and landscape designer. The print has circulated among private collections and has been documented in several catalogues of American etchings from the late nineteenth century.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
