Devils Way, Algiers

Stephen James Ferris

1879

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Impressionism Realism Late 19th Century visitation

About this work

This etching shows a dark alley in Algiers at night. Shadows stretch long under dim lanterns. Figures huddle close, their faces half-hidden. It’s an 1879 work by Stephen James Ferris, made with etching and drypoint. The lines cut deep in the metal, giving the scene a rough, urgent feel. You can almost hear the quiet hum of the city after dark. Try drawing with this same technique yourself.