1907
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Dominant colour
The West Front, Rouen Cathedral is a 1907 ink by Joseph Pennell, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows a huge, detailed cathedral under construction. Scaffolding covers the front, and workers are scattered around the base. The towers are tall and pointy, with lots of sharp lines and carvings. The ground is wet, maybe from rain, and a few people walk along the riverbank in the foreground. The artist used a scratchy, layered method to create the texture—some lines are deep, others faint. This makes the stone look rough and the scaffolding look tangled. Next, check out how this was made with etching.
Joseph Pennell (July 4, 1857 – April 23, 1926) was an American draftsman, etcher, lithographer, and illustrator for books and magazines.
See the richer artist page
