Sunset

Samuel Drummond, 1845

MEDIUMEtching on paper
DIMENSIONSImage: 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.)
LOCATIONArt Institute of Chicago
COLLECTIONPrints and Drawings
CULTUREEngland
CREDIT LINEThe Charles Deering Collection

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.

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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.

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What to Notice

1

The lone figure, small against the immense sky.

2

The way the clouds are illuminated from behind.

3

The subtle reflection of light on the water.

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Audio Deep Dive

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 o…

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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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