1622
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Dominant colour
Moonlit River Landscape is a 1622 ink by Schelte Adams Bolswert, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This engraving shows a quiet night scene by a river. Tall trees line the banks, their branches tangled against a dark sky dotted with a bright moon. The water glows softly, reflecting the light, and a lone cow grazes near the shore. In the distance, a small building sits on the hillside, half-hidden by the trees. The artist used tiny lines and shading to build up the shadows and light, making the scene feel almost three-dimensional. This kind of detailed linework is called cross-hatching. Look up technique: cross-hatching to see how artists create depth with just ink and paper.
Schelte a Bolswert or Schelte Adamsz. Bolswert (c. 1586 – 1659) was a Frisian engraver who worked most of his career in Antwerp where he was one of the lead engravers in Rubens' workshop. He is known for his…
See the richer artist page
