Le Petit Pont, Paris
1850
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1850
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This black-and-white print shows a bridge over a river in a busy city. The bridge has a row of small arches, and people walk along its top. On one side, there’s a tall, fancy building with lots of windows and a clock tower. On the other side, a church with two spires rises behind smaller houses. The river below looks calm, with a few small boats. The artist used fine lines to show every detail, like the texture of the buildings and the ripples in the water. This kind of close, precise work was common in the early 1800s before color photos. Next, look up etching to see how artists like this made sharp prints.
