A cottage set among trees
1745
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
1745
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
This sketch shows a small wooden house with a thatched roof tucked under a row of leafy trees. The trees are drawn with quick, sketchy lines, and the ground is a mix of grass and dirt. The whole scene looks like it was made fast, with light pencil strokes and no heavy shading. The artist used tiny parallel lines to build up shadows and texture—this is called cross-hatching. It’s a way to add depth without dark colors. The trees lean in, almost like they’re crowding the house. Check out how cross-hatching works in other drawings next.
