The image depicts several figures engaged in various activities around a body of water, viewed from almost a side-on perspective. The horizon line is high, with rolling hills and a building visible along it. The painting uses delicate brushstrokes to capture fine details in a monochromatic or grisé technique, primarily using shades of grey and brown. The color palette is muted, consisting of shades of grey and beige. Figures in period attire are shown engaging in tasks close to the viewer, while others interact further away, near trees and a winding path. Trees and foliage frame the scene, with more figures and landscape elements in the background, all under a soft, consistent light.
Read the visual description

The image depicts several figures engaged in various activities around a body of water, viewed from almost a side-on perspective. The horizon line is high, with rolling hills and a building visible along it. The painting uses delicate brushstrokes to capture fine details in a monochromatic or grisé technique, primarily using shades of grey and brown. The color palette is muted, consisting of shades of grey and beige. Figures in period attire are shown engaging in tasks close to the viewer, while others interact further away, near trees and a winding path. Trees and foliage frame the scene, with more figures and landscape elements in the background, all under a soft, consistent light.

National Gallery of Art · Drawing

August: Fishing

Claude Simpol

Date
c. 1700
Medium
brown and gray-brown wash with pen and brown and black ink over traces of black chalk
Dimensions
sheet: 24 × 32.4 cm (9 7/16 × 12 3/4 in.)
Classification
Drawing
Accession number
2018.57.1
Credit line
William B. O'Neal Fund
Time span
1651 to 1700
Department
CG-E

Subjects and terms

  • fishing
  • genre
Provenance

(sale, Audap & Mirabaud, Paris, 9 December 2016, no. 6); (Paul Prouté, S.A., Paris); purchased 2018 by NGA.

NGA object ID 214058. Collection metadata is reproduced under CC0. This work is included because its NGA published-image record is marked open access; visitors should recheck the source record before substantial reuse.