Marsh (Les marais)
1874
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1874
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Marsh (Les marais) is a 1874 ink by Alphonse Legros, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows a quiet marsh scene. Tall reeds and bushes fill the foreground, their lines sharp and dark. The water is calm, with just a few ripples. In the distance, the land flattens out into a hazy line. The artist used a drypoint tool to scratch into the metal plate, creating these bold lines. It’s a simple scene, but the details feel alive. Next, look up Romanticism to see how artists used nature to express big ideas.
