A Farmyard
1773
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1773
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Dominant colour
A Farmyard is a 1773 ink by Jean-Jacques de Boissieu, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows a weathered farmhouse with a sagging roof and uneven walls. Two people sit by a small stream in the foreground, one holding a stick. Inside the house, a woman leans over a balcony, and another stands in a doorway. The yard is cluttered with tools, hay, and bare trees. Shadows and light play across the rough surfaces, making the scene feel quiet and worn. The artist used ink and wash to create texture—notice how the strokes mimic wood grain and rough stone. This style was common in the Baroque period, where artists often focused on detail and drama in everyday scenes. Check out the technique: cross-hatching to see how this drawing was made.
