Rocky Coast

Alfred Thompson Bricher

National Gallery of Art

The image features a pen or ink sketch of a coastal scene. The viewpoint is from onshore looking towards the sea and cliffs. The horizon is positioned slightly above the center, with a clear delineation between the sea and sky. Above the horizon are light, curved lines suggesting a cloudy sky, while more fluid, horizontal strokes represent the sea. To the right, steep cliffs rise sharply, depicted with dense, vertical, and diagonal hatching for texture and depth. The cliffs descend to the left into rocky formations. The color palette is monochromatic with black ink on a pale paper background, creating a stark contrast that emphasizes the landscape features.