Sunset by Samuel Drummond

Sunset

Samuel Drummond · 1845

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“Pause to appreciate this small etching, where a solitary figure watches a breathtaking sunset. The artist masterfully uses light and shadow to create a scene of quiet contemplation and natural grandeur.”

ABOUT THIS WORK

A solitary figure stands at the edge of a calm body of water, silhouetted against a dramatic, cloud-filled sky in this etching. The low horizon line emphasizes the vastness of the heavens, where the light of the setting sun breaks through, casting a soft glow that reflects on the water's surface. The artist captures a moment of quiet contemplation, with the natural world dwarfing the human presence. This small print, with its delicate lines and tonal variations, evokes a sense of peace and the sublime power of nature. It was created a year after the artist's death, suggesting it might have been part of a posthumous publication or a print made from a plate prepared earlier.

DETAILS
Artist
Samuel Drummond
Date
1845
Medium
Etching on paper
Location
Art Institute of Chicago
Dimensions
Image: 9.7 × 7.7 cm (3 7/8 × 3 1/16 in.); Plate: 10.3 × 12.4 cm (4 1/16 × 4 15/16 in.); Sheet: 35.1 × 26.4 cm (13 7/8 × 10 7/16 in.)
Collection
Prints and Drawings
Culture
England
Credit line
The Charles Deering Collection
LOOK CLOSER

What to Notice

Four details hide in plain sight. Here’s where to look.

Sunset
01

The lone figure, small against the immense sky.

02

The way the clouds are illuminated from behind.

03

The subtle reflection of light on the water.

04

The delicate lines that define the distant landscape.

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THE ARTIST

Samuel Drummond

1766–1844 · England

Samuel Drummond, a British painter, captured the likenesses of notable figures like Walter Scott and documented maritime history with grand oil paintings.

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