American Falls, Niagara
1855
gouache
From the collection of Metropolitan Museum of Art
1855
gouache
From the collection of Metropolitan Museum of Art
You’re looking at a rushing waterfall, drawn in pencil and white chalk on dark paper. The falls roar down in jagged tiers, mist rising like smoke. Cropsey made this quick study outdoors, right at the edge of Niagara. The white gouache—thick, chalky paint—lets him add light without covering the dark paper underneath. It’s a sketch, not a finished painting, so you see the raw energy of the place. If you like this, search for more works in gouache.
