Four Landscapes: The Little Waterfall
1638
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
1638
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
Dominant colour
Four Landscapes: The Little Waterfall is a 1638 by Herman van Swanevelt, a Baroque work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.
This print shows a waterfall tumbling over rocks into a calm pool, surrounded by trees and rolling hills. The sky is light, almost erased, while the water and foliage are packed with tiny lines and shading. In the distance, a small house sits near a cluster of trees. The artist used deep shadows and fine cross-hatching to make the scene feel textured, especially in the water and rocks. This was a common way to add depth to prints back then. Next, check out chiaroscuro to see how light and shadow create drama in art.
