The artwork titled “View of Naples” is a watercolor created by the artist Edgar Degas in 1860. Associated with the Impressionist movement, this work represents the cityscape genre and is currently housed at the Bibliothèque nationale de France (BnF) in Paris, France. The piece exemplifies Degas’s engagement with landscape scenes, which may sometimes be overshadowed by his more famous depictions of dancers and everyday life.
The artwork captures a panoramic view of the city of Naples. In the foreground, one can observe the tops of buildings, characterized by warm earth tones and the detailed rendering of architectural features, such as domes and tiled roofs. There is a notable contrast between the densely packed structures in the forefront and the more open horizon beyond. The middle ground of the painting reveals a sweeping vista of the city, with numerous chimneys punctuating the cityscape, suggesting an urban environment at the cusp of modernity.
The horizon line is set relatively high in the composition, bringing attention to the sky, which is depicted with a sense of atmospheric perspective. Washes of muted purples and pinks blend into the skyline, indicating either a sunrise or sunset with a soft and diffused light softly enveloping the city. On the right, a plume of smoke ascends towards the sky, perhaps indicative of industrial activity, which adds a dynamic element to the otherwise tranquil scenery.
Far in the distance, beneath the vast sky, one can discern the outline of a mountainside and the gentle shimmer of a body of water, possibly the Bay of Naples. The overall impression is one of harmony between the urban setting and its natural surroundings, rendered with the delicate immediacy that watercolor provides. Degas’s brushwork exhibits both control and a degree of spontaneity, hallmarks of the Impressionist movement’s approach to capturing the essence of a moment or place.
