Landscape
1641
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This sketch shows broken stone columns and ruins in a dim, misty landscape. A few trees stand tall, their branches heavy with leaves. In the distance, a small group of people and animals—maybe sheep—walk along a path. The sky is pale, with soft clouds drifting over everything. The artist used thin, quick lines to suggest light and shadow, almost like a quick sketch. The brown ink and watercolor give it a faded, dreamy look, as if seen through a veil. Next, look up watercolor to see how artists use layers of transparent paint.
