1814
ink
From the collection of Metropolitan Museum of Art
This print shows a small wooden desk with a writing set on a blue cloth. Brushes stick out of a green holder, and a plum branch with buds and flowers leans against the desk. A turtle and a bird sit nearby, and a scroll lies open. The background has a red curtain and a tiny building with a roof. The plum branch is a key detail—it’s often used in art to symbolize resilience. This print was made as a special gift, not for sale. Next, look up cross-hatching to see how artists build shadows with lines.
