Water Rats
1886, printed July 1991
Medium
Photogravure, from "Sun Artists, Number 8" (1891)
Dimensions
Image: 12.6 × 17.7 cm (5 × 7 in.); Paper: 28 × 37.9 cm (11 1/16 × 14 15/16 in.)
Classification
photogravure
Department
Photography and Media
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
50783
Art Historical Context
**Water Rats** (1886) by Frank Sutcliffe is a captivating snapshot from the late Victorian era, showcasing the artist's keen eye for everyday life along England's rugged coast. Sutcliffe, a pioneering British photographer based in Whitby, Yorkshire, documented the vitality of fishermen, locals, and harbor scenes with a naturalistic touch that bridged documentary realism and emerging pictorialist ideals. Captured in 1886, this image his dedication to authentic portrayals of working-class youth, earning it enduring popularity. Printed as a photogravure in *Sun Artists, Number 8* (1891) and late...