Le Criard (The Shrieker)

Félix-Hilaire Buhot

National Gallery of Art

The image is a print that combines detailed etching with a variety of sketch-like illustrations. The main scene at the center of the image portrays a stormy seascape. The perspective is as if the viewer is standing on a wet shoreline looking out at the turbulent sea. Close to us, a figure appears to be running or bracing against the wind. Beyond this, the horizon is low, with crashing waves and indistinct clouds blending into the sky, though a ship is faintly visible. The technique of the brushstrokes and line work in the central section is intricate and dynamic, emphasizing the chaotic movement of the ocean. The image is primarily monochrome, with dark, stormy hues contrasting against light etched surfaces. Surrounding this inset are more artistic sketches: to the left, a depiction of sailors grappling with a boat's mast, while ethereal figures and a bird fill the upper right space. Below, beyond the central scene, lies a calmer shoreline and distant figures. The overall composition mixes detailed etching with softer sketches.