Shepherdess on a Donkey
1655
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1655
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This sketch shows a woman riding a donkey, holding a walking stick. Behind her, another woman sits on the donkey’s back, looking down. The donkey walks through a shallow stream, with two dogs splashing beside it. In the background, a few sheep graze on a hillside dotted with trees. The artist used fine lines to show the water’s ripples and the animals’ fur. Notice how the dogs’ legs blur slightly—this trick makes movement feel real. Look up etching next to see how this technique works.
