Cranes at Duisburg
1910
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1910
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This sketch shows a busy harbor with towering cranes and ships. The lines are loose and scratchy, giving a rough, industrial feel. Two small figures sit on the ground near the water’s edge, dwarfed by the massive machinery around them. The artist used quick, uneven strokes to show the cranes’ tangled metal frames and the smoky sky above. The focus is on the cranes’ size and complexity, not on smooth details. Next, check out the technique: etching to see how artists like this create texture with acid and plates.
