Swift Sailing Proa, Mulgrave Archipelago, Oceania

Charles Meryon

Cleveland Museum of Art

The image depicts a proa sailing on choppy waters. The proa has a large, curved sail and a long, thin hull. It is positioned at an angle, with the bow pointing towards the left side. The sail is billowing in the wind, and there are ropes extending from the top of the mast to the bottom of the hull. The water around the boat is choppy, with waves and ripples visible. In the background, there are other boats on the horizon, as well as a cloudy sky with birds flying overhead. The entire scene is rendered in black and white, with varying shades of gray used to create depth and texture. The image is framed by a thick border, with a rough, textured surface. A small symbol is visible in the top-right corner of the image.