Waterfall
1681
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1681
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Waterfall is a 1681 ink by Melchior Küsel, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This black-and-white print shows a wooded hillside by a river. Tall trees fill the scene, their branches thick and tangled. In the distance, a small waterfall pours over rocks, and a lone figure stands near the falls. The ground is rough with bushes and uneven terrain. The artist used fine lines to show texture—every leaf and rock is carefully drawn. This kind of printmaking is called *etching*, where acid bites into metal to create the image. Next, check out etching to see how artists like this made detailed prints.
