It Rocks but is Not Sunk 1854

"It Rocks but is Not Sunk," an 1854 etching by Charles Meryon, depicts a coat of arms with a ship, a hot air balloon, and a banner that reads "Victoriam Mergimus" (We conquer by sea). This work is a fine example of Meryon’s masterful use of etching to create detailed and evocative imagery, characteristic of the "Lost" or "Romantic" era in art. The artwork is a study for the later etching "La Liberté," suggesting Meryon's meticulous artistic process.