Coastal Landscape
Alexander Cozens
ca. 1770 · Graphite, brush and gray wash; laid down on original paper mount with gray wash · Drawings and Prints
In this imaginary view of a coastal landscape, a low shoreline on the left opens onto the sea and is framed in the background by a wooded hill. In the distance, a mountain castle overlooks the bay and a small island closes off the image to the right. The landscape is built up from just a few brush strokes in gray wash that are further accentuated with delicate graphite linework to indicate topography. Using the blank paper as the base tone of his composition, the artist skillfully interlaces dark and light areas in the water and on land to enliven an otherwise simple composition. This seemingly simple technique is highly effective in creating the impression of a sundrenched view.
- Artist
- Alexander Cozens
- Date
- ca. 1770
- Medium
- Graphite, brush and gray wash; laid down on original paper mount with gray wash
- Department
- Drawings and Prints
- Credit line
- Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1930
