Le Coup de vent

Honoré Daumier

National Gallery of Art

This is a drawing of a ship caught in a sudden gust of wind. The image depicts a leaning sailboat with two figures clinging to its mast as it is buffeted by strong winds, causing waves to form on the water. In the chaos, a hat is flying off into the air, while in the background, there is an audience of onlookers, possibly on a dock. The drawing employs fine line work and shading to create a sense of dynamism and motion, with the wind being almost palpable as it whips through the scene. It also includes handwritten text in French.