1874
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Birch Trees along the Water (Les bouleaux: Bord de l'eau) is a 1874 ink by Alphonse Legros, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows tall, thin birch trees lining a body of water. The trunks are straight and clean, while the branches spread out like lace. The ground is covered in wavy lines that look like grass or reeds, and the whole scene is drawn in fine, scratchy marks. The artist used a technique that leaves behind tiny, textured lines—almost like scratching into the surface. This kind of drawing was popular in the 1800s when artists focused on nature’s beauty and emotion. Next, look up drypoint to see how this scratchy, detailed style works.
Alphonse Legros (French pronunciation: ; 8 May 1837 – 8 December 1911) was a French, later British, painter, etcher, sculptor, and medallist.
See the richer artist page
