La Falaise d'Orbigny
1922
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
1922
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
La Falaise d'Orbigny is a 1922 by Gustave Leheutre, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.
This sketch shows a quiet riverbank with a steep, grassy cliff on the right. A few boats float on the water, and in the distance, a town with tall church spires sits along the shore. The trees on the right are drawn with quick, loose lines, while the water looks smooth but slightly textured. The artist focused on light and shadow to give depth to the scene. Notice how the cliff’s edge casts a soft shadow over the water—it’s subtle but makes the scene feel real. Look up chiaroscuro next to see how artists use light and dark like this.
