The Cliff, Bay of St. Malmo 1889 - 1890

Félix Hilaire Buhot created this evocative etching, “The Cliff, Bay of St. Malmo” using drypoint and aquatint. The composition's strength lies in its stark contrasts. Buhot masterfully uses a muted palette to create a scene charged with emotional tension. The landscape is divided into distinct zones: the turbulent sky, the somber cliff, and the calm sea. The dense, dark lines of the cliff face contrast dramatically with the open, lighter areas of the sky and sea, drawing the eye across this tripartite division. Buhot's use of line is particularly striking. The etched lines vary in thickness and direction to create texture and depth. Notice how he captures the roughness of the cliff and the fluidity of the sea? These textures enhance the scene's dramatic feel and align with the late 19th-century interest in capturing nature's raw, untamed aspects. Buhot invites us to contemplate the sublime interplay between the natural world and human emotion.