The Coast of Elba Possibly 1870

Telemaco Signorini created this etching, *The Coast of Elba,* during a period of great social change in Italy. His work often captured the lives of the working class and the marginalized. In this image, the solitary boat on the shore evokes a sense of isolation, a theme often found in Signorini’s work, reflecting the socio-economic struggles of the Italian common folk during the late 19th century. Consider the absence of human figures. The landscape is the main subject, yet it feels strangely deserted, perhaps mirroring the artist’s feelings about the societal issues he witnessed. Signorini, aligned with the Macchiaioli movement, broke from academic traditions, portraying the world as he saw it, with raw emotion. He once said that to create art, one had to "feel deeply and express sincerely." The dramatic sky and rugged coastline might symbolize the turbulent times in Italy. This image of Elba's coast serves as a quiet, yet powerful statement on the human condition within a rapidly changing world.