Study for "Shad Fishing" c. 1846

This is William Tylee Ranney's Study for "Shad Fishing", made with pen and brown ink over graphite on cream wove paper. This work is a reminder that, despite the differences between a quick sketch and a finished oil painting, they both rely on skilled handwork. Ranney has used hatching and cross-hatching in brown ink to create a scene with three figures in a boat on choppy waters, with some details rendered in graphite. The rapid, almost frantic marks capture the movement of the waves and the straining posture of the fishermen. The labor-intensive process of shad fishing is evident. Ranney was known for his depictions of the American West, but this study reveals his interest in the working lives of ordinary people, lives that depended on the seasonal bounty of the rivers. Whether with pen and ink, or paint and canvas, Ranney's commitment to materials and their ability to convey the realities of labor are central to his art.