Figures Bathing in a Stream
1630
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1630
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This sketch shows a quiet riverside scene with four small figures. Three people stand near the water’s edge, while one person bends to pick something up. Trees and bushes line the bank, and the whole scene is drawn in soft brown ink with light shading. The artist used quick, loose lines to capture movement and light. The paper looks old, with some wear along the edges. Next, check out cross-hatching to see how artists build up tones with layered lines.
