Study for ‘The Channel of Gravelines: An Evening’

Georges Seurat (1859–1891)

1890

Conté crayon on paper

Gravelines, summer 1890

In addition to full compositional sketches, Georges Seurat also made studies of individual elements in preparation for The Channel of Gravelines: An Evening (number 18). This drawing is one of the most striking and depicts large anchors resting on the quay, with a jetty and moored boat in the distance. Seurat seems to have added these anchors to his painting in order to balance the composition.

Victoria and Albert Museum, London