A Blacksmith (Un Forgeron)
1833
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1833
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Dominant colour
A Blacksmith (Un Forgeron) is a 1833 ink by Eugène Delacroix, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This print shows a blacksmith hunched over an anvil, his back to us, muscles tight as he works. The light hits his arms and the glowing metal, while the background fades into shadow. A faint outline of another person stands nearby, watching. The edges of the paper are rough, with sketchy marks and a few birds drawn in the corners. This is an aquatint print, which uses acid to create subtle tones—notice how the dark areas blend smoothly. The artist focused on the drama of light and shadow to show the smith’s effort. Next, look up chiaroscuro to see how this lighting trick works in other art.
