The New Moon

The New Moon

Benjamin Lander

1884

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

About this work

This print shows a quiet forest at dusk, with tall trees framing a moonlit pond. The water reflects the pale light of a crescent moon, while shadows stretch long across the grass. Branches twist across the scene, and the background fades into soft hills. The artist used fine lines to create texture, making the trees and reeds look almost three-dimensional. This kind of detailed shading is common in etchings, where ink is pressed into a metal plate. Next, check out the technique: etching to see how artists like this create depth with simple tools.

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