1812
chalk
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Waterfall with Rocks is a 1812 chalk by John Sell Cotman, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows a rocky riverbank with a waterfall pouring over jagged stones. The trees on the left are drawn with loose, tangled lines, while the cliffs and water are made of layered, textured strokes. Light areas pop against the gray paper, giving the scene a rough, natural feel. The artist used chalk to build up light spots, almost like scratching into the surface. This makes the water and rocks look wet and uneven, not smooth. Next, check out technique: chiaroscuro to see how light and shadow create depth.
John Sell Cotman (16 May 1782 – 24 July 1842) was an English marine and landscape painter, etcher, illustrator, and a leading member of the Norwich School of painters.
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