The image depicts a coastal scene with the sun either rising or setting, casting a golden hue across the sky and water. The horizon shows a silhouette of land. Near the viewer are several vessels, including a boat with figures, possibly working with fishing nets. Other sailboats are visible in the distance, and birds fly above. The brushstrokes are delicate, emphasizing water movement and color transitions. The color palette is warm with soft yellows, browns, and blues.
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Tuna Fishing at Sunrise off the Coast near Marseilles

Félix Ziem (French, 1821 - 1911)

1860s

Medium
watercolor with pen and brown ink and touches of gum arabic over graphite, on wove paper
Classification
Drawing
Dimensions
sheet: 28.6 × 41 cm (11 1/4 × 16 1/8 in.)
Museum
National Gallery of Art, CG-E
Credit line
Purchased as the Gift of Joan and David Maxwell
Rights
Public domain (NGA Open Access, CC0), as the museum states it.
Who can see it
Tweens profiles and older: its subjects are known and suit older children. How works are placed

View at the National Gallery of Art