Artwork
Entrance of Calais Harbour
Entrance of Calais Harbour is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Joseph Mallord William Turner. It dates from 1816 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Entrance of Calais Harbour is a print created by Joseph Mallord William Turner in 1816, combining etching and mezzotint techniques.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts three ships navigating into a harbor, with a cityscape and lighthouse in the background. The scene conveys a sense of dynamic movement, with choppy waters and wind-filled sails.
Technique & Style
Turner employed etching and mezzotint to achieve a detailed representation of the ships and a nuanced portrayal of light and shadow on the waves and clouds, creating depth and texture.
Artist & collection
Artist
Joseph Mallord William Turner was born in 1775 at Maiden Lane, Covent Garden, where his father kept a barber and wig-making shop.
