1647
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Landscape with Peasant Preparing to Cross a Stream is a 1647 ink by Stefano Della Bella, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This black-and-white scene shows a quiet countryside by a shallow stream. A person crouches near the water, maybe tending to a cow or sheep. In the background, a few more animals graze near a small bridge and a cluster of trees. The sky is plain, with just a few birds flying. The artist used fine lines to show texture—like the rough bark of trees or the ripples in the water. This was done with a technique called etching. Next, look up *etching* to see how artists like this made detailed prints.
Stefano della Bella (18 May 1610 – 12 July 1664) was an Italian draughtsman and printmaker known for etchings of a great variety of subjects, including military and court scenes, landscapes, and lively genre scenes.
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