1874
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
The House of the Well (La maison du puits) is a 1874 ink by Alphonse Legros, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows a quiet countryside scene with a small house and a well in the middle. Trees and bushes line a winding path, and the ground looks uneven with patches of grass and dirt. The artist used quick, rough lines to draw everything—no smooth colors, just shades of gray. The well in the center is the only real focal point, with a few people gathered around it. The trees on the right side are drawn with lots of tiny lines, giving them a textured look. This style fits the Romantic movement, which often focused on nature and emotion. If you like this sketch, check out the technique: etching, drypoint, aquatint.
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
