A Cusset (Allier)

Maxime Lalanne

1869

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Impressionism Realism Late 19th Century

About this work

This sketch shows a quiet village scene in black and white. A horse stands near a small covered well, its reins loose. To the right, a tall wooden cross leans against a crumbling wall, while a person sits on a ledge in the distance. The buildings look old, with thatched roofs and rough textures. The artist used sharp lines to show texture—like the horse’s fur or the well’s ropes. This was a common way to make prints look detailed. Check out etching to see how artists create these kinds of prints.