Moonlight at Low Tide

James Craig Nicoll

Etching and aquatint in black on wove paper

National Gallery of Art

This evocative etching and aquatint captures the serene beauty of a New England coastline bathed in moonlight, showcasing Nicoll's masterful ability to render atmospheric effects of light and shadow. James Craig Nicoll (1846-1918) was a celebrated American marine painter and etcher who trained under the prominent Dutch-American artist Mauritz de Haas, developing a specialty in crisp coastal scenes along the New England seaboard. As a founding member of the American Watercolor Society and secretary of the New York Etching Club, Nicoll was central to the American etching revival of the late 19th century. This contemplative nocturnal seascape, with its delicate tonal gradations, would bring a sense of timeless tranquility to any home.