Les Roches noires près Trouville (Marèe Basse) 1874

Maxime Lalanne's "Les Roches noires près Trouville" is an etching which emphasizes the contrast between the looming sky and the rugged terrain. The artist uses a dense network of fine lines to evoke a somber, almost oppressive atmosphere. The composition is structured around the stark forms of the rocks, their texture and mass meticulously rendered to draw the eye through the scene. These rock formations contrast with the distant horizon line where the sea meets the sky, offering a sense of depth but also one of confinement. Lalanne was working during a period when artists were challenging traditional academic approaches to landscape. Here, the artist engages with the sublime, presenting nature not as picturesque, but as an elemental force. The stark black and white palette and the intricate linework contribute to the unsettling mood, inviting us to contemplate the relationship between humanity and the natural world.