Shepherd in Repose near a Pack Horse
1762
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1762
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This sketch shows a tired shepherd lying on the ground under a pack horse. The horse stands loaded with bags, its head turned toward the man. In the background, a few sheep graze near a rocky hillside. The colors are mostly blue, gray, and earthy tones, with some orange highlights. The artist used a technique that lets ink sit in carved lines, then added white to make the figures pop. This kind of drawing was often used for quick, expressive scenes. Next, look up etching to see how artists like this made detailed prints.
