The Outer Harbor of La Rochelle 1904

Gustave Leheutre made this print of La Rochelle with, I imagine, the meticulous craft of an engraver who loves a good view. You can almost feel the cool, salty air as you look at it. He’s used these delicate, scratchy lines to build up the scene, like he’s knitting the harbor into existence. I bet he stood there, squinting in the sunlight, trying to capture that shimmering light on the water. I like the little figures on the shore! It’s like a quiet hum. It reminds me of Whistler. It's part of this longer conversation about light and place, this dance between observation and feeling. It's also a reminder that art isn't just about grand statements, it's about these small, intimate moments of seeing. And that’s something every artist, from Leheutre to us, can relate to.