Landscape with a Lake

Augustin Hirschvogel

1528

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Renaissance Renaissance Landscape

About this work

This sketch shows a quiet, hilly landscape with a winding river and a small lake. A few bare trees dot the scene, and buildings—some like castles, others simple houses—sit on the slopes. The artist used quick, sketchy lines to capture the shapes, leaving some areas rough and others more defined. The drawing feels like a quick study, almost like a first draft. The artist focused on capturing the land’s shape and mood rather than perfect details. Want to know more about how this was made? Try technique: etching.