The Sea at Bognor 1895

Theodore Roussel made this understated image of the sea at Bognor using colored crayons, watercolor, and etching. These are not traditional art materials, per se. Rather, Roussel was interested in exploring the subtleties of light and atmosphere through unconventional means. Here, the layering of colors, combined with the textured paper support, evokes the interplay of light on water. Roussel built up the image in stages, etching the main compositional lines, and then using the crayons and watercolors to add tone and texture. The horizontal lines of the sea, the rough texture of the crayon, and the washy quality of the watercolor all contribute to the work's overall sense of calm. Roussel was particularly interested in the material qualities of his chosen media, playing with their inherent properties to create a sense of depth and atmosphere. By combining these techniques, Roussel blurred the lines between traditional art categories, elevating everyday materials to the realm of high art. This reminds us that the meaning of a work lies not only in its subject matter, but also in the way it is made.