Sketch on Apache Trail, Arizona
1929
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1929
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This sketch shows a rugged mountain landscape with sharp cliffs and jagged rocks. Trees and shrubs dot the lower slopes, while the higher ground is mostly bare. The lines are rough and textured, giving the scene a wild, uneven feel. The artist used a method that scratches into metal plates before printing—this creates the deep, scratchy lines you see. It’s not smooth like a painting; it’s more like the real rocky terrain. Next, look up etching, drypoint, aquatint to see how this technique works.
