The artwork titled “Waiting for the Ferry Boat” was created by artist David Cox in the year 1835. This piece belongs to the Romanticism art movement and falls under the genre of genre painting.
The artwork depicts a serene yet dynamic rural scene, characteristic of Romanticism, capturing a group of people and horses gathered by a riverside, evidently awaiting the arrival of a ferry. The landscape is rendered with soft, earthy tones, emphasizing the tranquil yet anticipatory mood. The composition features a blend of human figures and natural elements, highlighting the interaction between humans and their environment. The sky, painted in shades of pale blue and cream, stretches expansively across the canvas, dotted with distant birds in flight, further enhancing the scene’s sense of depth and open space. The figures are detailed yet subtle, each engaged in a patient wait, encapsulating a moment of everyday life in the 19th century. The presence of reflections in the water and the deft use of light contribute to the overall atmospheric quality, making the artwork a quintessential example of Romantic genre painting.
