Town Gate with Country Houses
1560
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From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1560
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This black-and-white drawing shows a small town with a big castle-like gate on the right. In front of it, there’s a bridge over a narrow river, and a few people walk along the dirt paths. The buildings are simple, with steep roofs and small windows, and trees dot the scene. The artist used a mix of lines to create depth, making the castle gate look tall and the river look calm. This style was common in the 1500s for detailed city views. Next, look up etching to see how this technique works.