Sailboats on (Long Island?) Sound (from Sketchbook) 1858 - 1916

This delicate pencil drawing, "Sailboats on (Long Island?) Sound (from Sketchbook)," by American artist Henry Ward Ranger, captures the serenity of a coastal scene. Dated between 1858 and 1916, the work showcases Ranger's keen eye for detail and minimalist approach. The composition features a simple arrangement of sailboats, their masts rising against a hazy horizon, suggesting a peaceful, perhaps even slightly melancholic mood. This sketch, part of Ranger's sketchbook, exemplifies the artist's practice of capturing fleeting moments of beauty in nature. The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City houses this intimate, evocative portrayal of marine life.