Coastal Scene with Beached Boats in Foreground 1800 - 1852

Samuel Prout made this watercolor on paper of a coastal scene sometime before 1852. Look closely, and you will see how the artist coaxed the pigments to flow across the page, using the paper's absorbency to his advantage. Notice, too, how he has exploited the blank areas of the sheet. These passages serve as the highlights, articulating the forms of the boats. The texture of the paper itself creates the impression of a hazy maritime atmosphere. The loose application of the paint suggests a feeling of transience, like a fleeting moment captured. Watercolor was a popular medium in this period, especially amongst amateur artists, but Prout was a master of the medium. He was admired for his ability to evoke a sense of place and atmosphere through the simplest means. The economic system depended heavily on maritime trade, and the labors of countless sailors and shipbuilders. This artwork reminds us that even the most delicate art form can speak volumes about the world of work.