William Penn's Treaty with the Indians
1775
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
About the artist
1775
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
William Penn's Treaty with the Indians is a 1775 ink by John Hall, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This engraving shows two groups of people meeting in a wooded area by a river. One side has men in long coats and hats, while the other side has shirtless men with feathered headbands and children. They’re all gathered around a central figure who seems to be talking to both groups. In the background, there’s a small village with houses and a ship on the water, plus a big tree with fluffy clouds above. Notice how the artist used fine lines to create shadows and textures—this is called cross-hatching. It makes the scene look detailed even though it’s just black and white. Next, look up cross-hatching to see how artists build depth with lines.
