Moonlit Landscape with a River and Castle
1774
chalk
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1774
chalk
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This drawing shows a quiet night scene with a river winding through dark trees. A rocky cliff rises on the right, and a faint castle sits on a hill in the distance. The moon glows pale in the top corner, lighting the scene in soft grays and browns. The artist used chalk on paper to create deep shadows and subtle light. The castle’s faint outline hints at something mysterious lurking in the dark. Check out the technique: chiaroscuro to see how artists use light and shadow this way.
