# Seaside Studies

**Eugène Isabey** (French, 1803–1886)  
1830s  
charcoal with traces of pen and brown ink and brown wash on laid paper  
sheet: 37.1 x 51.4 cm (14 5/8 x 20 1/4 in.)

Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington, 2009.74.3. [The museum's record](https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.144396.html).

## About this work

Eugène Isabey drew this in the 1830s, aged about 27. It is now at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC.

### What you’re looking at

This image is a pencil sketch on paper with a monochrome palette of graphite gray. The viewer sees various scenes without a defined horizon line. The upper section shows figures in period clothing, possibly mid-19th century women's fashion. The middle area has abstract architectural forms. In the lower right corner, a sailing ship or boat is sketched with more detail than the rest. The drawing style consists of quick, expressive strokes. The image conveys multiple narrative or compositional ideas on a single sheet.

_Description from the National Gallery of Art._

### How it was made

- **Charcoal.** Burnt willow or vine. It smudges and wipes away easily, which made it the natural tool for working out a composition.
- **Pen and ink.** Drawn with a quill or reed pen, often with wash added by brush to model light and shadow.
- **Laid paper.** Handmade on a mould of close-set wires, which leave fine parallel lines you can see when the sheet is held to the light.

### [Eugène Isabey](https://www.ochreeditions.com/artists/eugene-isabey)

French, 1803–1886

## Facts

- Type: Drawing
- The artist was about 27
- Real size: about 15 × 20 in (37 × 51 cm). The 16 × 20 in print is close to life size.
- Century: 19th century
- Subjects: France
- Colour: white
- Rights: public domain (CC0 1.0); free to use for any purpose.

## Get it

- Free download, full resolution: https://img.ochreeditions.com/m/1675.jpg?dl=1
- Image: https://img.ochreeditions.com/a/1675/1920.jpg
- Giclée reproduction on Hahnemühle Photo Rag: 8 × 10 in $28; 11 × 14 in $38; 12 × 16 in $42; 16 × 20 in $56; 18 × 24 in $68; 20 × 30 in $86
- Framed reproduction: 8 × 10 in $78; 11 × 14 in $98; 12 × 16 in $108; 16 × 20 in $138; 18 × 24 in $164; 20 × 30 in $208
- Canvas reproduction: 8 × 10 in $58; 11 × 14 in $72; 12 × 16 in $79; 16 × 20 in $98; 18 × 24 in $118
- Print-ready file: 8 × 10 in $2; 11 × 14 in $2; 12 × 16 in $3; 16 × 20 in $3; 18 × 24 in $3; 20 × 30 in $5

Sizes stop where the museum's file would print below 150 pixels per inch. Everything sold is a reproduction, made to order. [Order a print](https://www.ochreeditions.com/art/seaside-studies-nga-144396).