Old Trees at Naushon Island [plate 2]

Old Trees at Naushon Island [plate 2]

Robert Swain Gifford

1865

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

About this work

This sketch shows a lone, twisted tree standing in a rocky patch. The branches are bare and tangled, with sharp lines that make them look rough. Around the tree, the ground is covered in small bushes and pebbles, and the sky above is barely there—just a few faint marks. The artist used a technique that scratches into metal plates to create the lines. This lets them hold ink in the grooves, making the dark marks pop against the light background. Next, look up etching to see how artists like this make prints.

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