1874
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Small Lake (Le petit lac) is a 1874 ink by Alphonse Legros, a Romanticism work, depicting Forest, held at National Gallery of Art.
This etching shows a quiet pond with dark trees and a small boat in the center. The surface of the water is almost smooth, except for a few light ripples around the boat. Legros uses fine lines to create soft shadows on the trees and hills. Drypoint is a technique where the artist scratches lines directly into a metal plate. This lets ink pool in the scratches, making the shadows look rich and velvety. The effect is subtle but draws your eye to the calm center of the scene. Look for more works by Legros, Alphonse in the National Gallery of Art, Washington.
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
