German Forest, Downley
1874
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1874
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This print shows a dark, tangled forest with thick trees and gnarled branches. The lines are scratchy and uneven, like they were made by hand. Light barely breaks through the canopy, leaving most of the scene shadowy. The artist used a technique that lets ink sit in carved lines, creating a rough, textured look. This style was common in the 1800s for capturing mood over detail. Next, check out etching to see how artists like this made prints.
