The Shipwreck 1633 - 1646

Claude Lorrain’s etching, *The Shipwreck*, depicts a ship foundering on the rocks during a storm. The scene is set against a craggy cliff with a crumbling tower on top, suggesting a perilous location. Several small boats are tossed about in the turbulent seas, while figures in the foreground struggle to pull a rope. Created in 1633-1646, this detailed etching demonstrates Lorrain’s mastery of light and shadow, which creates a sense of drama and suspense. The etching’s focus on the dramatic event of a shipwreck with the presence of a dramatic landscape, places it in the realm of *marine art*. This etching, now held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, is a powerful example of the *Baroque* style.