The Smoking Fire
1750
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1750
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This image looks like a busy, tangled cityscape. Buildings pile up on top of each other, crammed together. You can barely see streets or people—just lots of lines and shadows. The whole scene feels crowded and chaotic. The artist packed in so many details that it’s hard to follow. Every corner has stairs, arches, and strange shapes. Some spots look like ruins, others like bridges or tunnels. Want to see more work like this? Check out etching to learn how artists create these layered lines.
