Two Sailboats on Calm Water
mid to late 19th century
Jongkind was the 'godfather' of Impressionism, essentially teaching Monet how to capture the fleeting light of the sky and water. In this lively sketch, he uses quick, scratchy lines to give the sails volume, contrasting their energy against the serene, horizontal horizon line. It feels like a private, on-the-spot study of the Dutch coast, capturing a quiet moment of sailing life with incredible economy of line.