Le gueux des campagnes

About this work

This is a black-and-white woodcut of a tired-looking man sitting on a tree branch. He’s wearing a wide-brimmed hat, a long coat, and boots, holding a stick in one hand. Behind him, a village with small houses and a church steeple sits by a river, while a ship sails in the distance. The lines are rough and textured, giving the scene a scratchy, handmade feel. The artist used woodcut, a technique where the design is carved into wood and then inked. This method makes the lines sharp and the shading simple but expressive. Next, check out woodcut to see how this printmaking process works.