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Giant Oak with a Seated Fisherman

Carl Wilhelm Kolbe

1797

ink

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Romanticism 18th Century Landscape

Dominant colour

Giant Oak with a Seated Fisherman is a 1797 ink by Carl Wilhelm Kolbe, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Carl Wilhelm Kolbe
When & what style?: 1797 · Romanticism
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This print shows a huge oak tree taking up most of the scene, its thick branches spreading wide. Below it, a small figure sits on the riverbank, holding a fishing rod. The water is calm, with a few boats floating nearby, and a distant bridge connects two sides of the landscape. The artist focused on nature’s scale—making the tree feel ancient and powerful. The tiny fisherman reminds you how small humans are next to it. Next, check out the technique: etching to see how prints like this were made.