1868
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Willows of the Mottiaux Islands is a 1868 ink by Félix Bracquemond, a Impressionism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This print shows a quiet scene of tall, skinny trees standing in shallow water. Their bare branches twist upward, while the roots spread wide in the muddy ground. The lines of the water ripple outward, almost like waves, and the trees cast long, dark shadows. The artist used a sharp tool to carve fine details into the paper, creating a soft, almost sketchy look. This kind of printmaking is called *etching*—it’s different from painting because it’s made by pressing ink into lines cut into metal. Check out more about etching to see how artists use acid and metal plates to make prints like this.
Félix Henri Bracquemond (French pronunciation: ; 22 May 1833 – 29 October 1914) was a French painter, etcher, and printmaker.
See the richer artist page
