Shipwreck 1801 - 1848

Thomas Cole's "Shipwreck" is a pencil drawing on paper that depicts a rocky seascape. The drawing features a large rock formation on the right side of the composition and a small tree on the left. The rocky cliffs are depicted with great detail, and the sea is suggested through the use of a light, airy wash of graphite. The artist's signature style of detailed observation and atmospheric rendering is evident in this small drawing. This work is part of the Hudson River School, an American art movement that emerged in the 19th century. The drawing is currently part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection in New York City.