Banks of the Venelle (Bord de la Venelle)

Banks of the Venelle (Bord de la Venelle)

Alphonse Legros

1888

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

About this work

This sketch shows a quiet riverbank. Trees and bushes line the water’s edge, drawn in quick, scratchy lines. The ground is uneven, with patches of grass and rocks. Light fades toward the back, making the scene feel soft and distant. The artist used a method called *drypoint*—sharp tools etched into metal to make marks. This lets you see the lines up close, almost like scratches on paper. Next, check out drypoint to see how it works.

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