Artwork
Deluge (Inondation)
Deluge (Inondation) is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Charles Ricketts. It dates from 1894 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
The print captures a tumultuous interior where water surges through a room, overturning furniture and submerging shelves.
Deluge (Inondation) is a black‑and‑white wood engraving executed by Charles Ricketts in 1894. The print captures a tumultuous interior where water surges through a room, overturning furniture and submerging shelves. A massive clock‑like mechanism dominates a corner, its gears whirring amid the chaos. The composition is rendered entirely in line and tone, emphasizing the sudden, uncontrolled flood.
Subject & Meaning
The image presents a domestic space overwhelmed by an unexpected flood, suggesting themes of disruption and the fragility of order. Figures gathered around a table appear caught in the surge, while the mechanical clock may symbolize the relentless passage of time confronting natural forces. The juxtaposition of everyday objects with a catastrophic wave invites reflection on humanity’s vulnerability to sudden change.
Technique & Style
Ricketts employed the wood engraving process, carving fine, intersecting lines into a hard wood block to achieve precise, high‑contrast effects. Deep shadows and sharply delineated edges convey the turbulence of the water and the tension of the scene. The stark monochrome palette heightens the sense of immediacy, while the intricate detailing of gears and furnishings demonstrates the artist’s command of the medium.
History & Provenance
Created in the late nineteenth century, Deluge (Inondation) reflects Ricketts’s interest in printmaking and narrative illustration. The work was produced during a period when wood engraving experienced a revival among British artists seeking to explore complex visual stories. It has since been held in several public collections, illustrating the enduring relevance of Ricketts’s contribution to the print medium.
Artist & collection
