Tower (La tour)
1874
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1874
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Tower (La tour) is a 1874 ink by Alphonse Legros, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows a lone figure walking along a winding path near a river. The scene is simple: a small tower sits on a hill in the background, surrounded by trees. The artist used quick, scratchy lines to show the grass, water, and sky. The dry, sketchy style makes the scene feel rough and quick—like a quick note rather than a finished painting. This fits the Romantic movement’s love of nature and emotion over polished details. Next, check out Romanticism to see how artists used nature to express big feelings.
