Ancient Oaks in a Landscape
1792
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1792
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This image shows a lone, twisted tree standing in a dim forest clearing. Its gnarled branches stretch upward, while sunlight filters through the leaves above. The ground around it is scattered with plants and shadows, and a distant village sits quietly in the background. The artist used shading to make the bark look rough and the sky feel distant. This print is from 1792, and the title means "an old oak" in French. Next, check out the technique: aquatint to see how artists create soft, watery tones like these.
