The House with the Stepped Gable
1621
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
About the artist
1621
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
The House with the Stepped Gable is a 1621 ink by Willem Buytewech, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This black-and-white print shows a quiet, tree-lined scene with a small house on a hill. The trees have twisty branches, and the ground looks uneven, like a mix of grass and dirt. A narrow road or path runs along the bottom, with a tiny building tucked near the water’s edge. The artist used fine lines to show texture—notice how the bark and leaves look almost three-dimensional. This kind of detailed linework is key to the technique used here. Next, check out etching to see how artists like this one create prints with acid and metal plates.
