1835
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Ruined Towers Overlooking the Rhine is a 1835 ink by Karl Bodmer, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This drawing shows a rocky cliff covered in wild plants and flowers, with ruins of a crumbling tower on top. Below, a river winds through a distant valley, and another castle sits on a hill in the far background. The sky is soft and cloudy, blending into the misty hills. The artist used layers of ink and wash to build up the textures—notice how the shadows under the rocks and leaves look almost three-dimensional. The ruins feel both ancient and forgotten, like they’ve been there for centuries. Next, check out cross-hatching to see how artists like this one create depth with just ink and lines.
Johann Carl Bodmer (11 February 1809 – 30 October 1893) was a Swiss-French printmaker, etcher, lithographer, zinc engraver, draughtsman, painter, illustrator, and hunter.
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