Along the Terne (Sur la terne)
1874
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1874
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This sketch shows a dark, tangled forest edge with thick brush and gnarled trees. The lines are rough and busy, like scratching into the paper. In the distance, a faint path or river winds through lighter, simpler strokes. The artist used a technique that lets ink pile up for deep shadows—great for mood. This style was popular in the 1800s when artists favored drama over smooth details. Try looking up drypoint to see how this scratchy texture works.
