Gezicht op Calais 1865

"Gezicht op Calais" (View of Calais) is an etching by Sir Francis Seymour Haden, a British artist who was a key figure in the development of etching as a fine art form. The artwork, which is now part of the Rijksmuseum collection, is a small-scale print that depicts a distant view of the French city of Calais. The artist's signature "Calais S. Haden. 1865," appears beneath the image in the print. The print shows a long, low skyline and a few buildings, and the viewer can see a dark water surface in the foreground, reflecting the clouds in the sky above. The composition is characteristic of Haden's etchings, with a focus on the natural world and a sense of atmospheric depth. This etching is considered one of Haden's finest works and is a good example of his unique style.