Small Lake (Le petit lac)
1874
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1874
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This sketch shows two tall, thin trees standing side by side in a quiet scene. The branches twist and spread out, filling most of the space. The ground around them is covered in short, wavy lines that look like grass or water. The artist used a technique where lines are scratched into a metal plate to create texture—this makes the trees look almost three-dimensional. The light areas around the trees suggest a misty or overcast day. Try looking up etching to see how this method works.
