Lublin Graphics
Antoinette
Often called the most important river in Northern France, the Seine—with its canals linking it to the Loire, Rhône, and Rhine—has been the hub of France since the Middle Ages. Due to its inextricable connection to Paris, this romantic and serene waterway has been engraved in the minds of the world as one of Europe’s most inspiring rivers. Today, the Seine remains central to French life, culture, and identity, and serves as a muse for writers, painters, and photographers who visit the city. In his original Lithograph, Antionette, Delacroix pays tribute to the boats and their captains that call the Seine their home. With the grey river reflecting the image of old Parisian buildings in its still waters, this piece evokes a serene and almost solemn feeling as our attention is drawn to the solitary man rowing his small boat down the river. A father and daughter stop to watch him as the boats are anchored and docked. Almost out of frame, the boat with the name “Antoinette” painted on its hull has been deserted for the evening—a detail easily overlooked it the titled hadn’t led us to search for it—leaving us wondering who the boat belongs to, and who it was named for