Return to the Port 1839

Eugène Isabey created 'Return to the Port' using graphite on paper. These are traditional materials, but the way Isabey coaxes them to describe the scene is quite remarkable. The drama of the scene is intensified by the artist's skilled handling of the graphite, creating a range of tones and textures that evoke the turbulent sea and the fragility of the vessels. The pencil marks are delicate yet powerful, capturing the rough nature of the sea, the volume of the clouds and the sheer weight of the water. Look closely at the way Isabey uses light and shadow to emphasize the waves crashing against the boats, filled with sailors, their bodies rendered with a raw, expressive energy. The intense labor of the sailors is evident; a reminder of the human effort that underlies maritime trade and travel. Isabey’s focus on the material realities of seafaring life, and the working people within it, bridges the gap between fine art and the everyday.