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Falling Springs

Woldemar Rau

1857

ink

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Impressionism Realism Early 19th Century Waterfall

Dominant colour

Falling Springs is a 1857 ink by Woldemar Rau, a Impressionism work, depicting Waterfall, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Woldemar Rau
When & what style?: 1857 · Impressionism
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

You see a waterfall tumbling down rocky cliffs into a misty pool below. The scene is calm but full of movement, with soft light filtering through spray. Lithography was new in the 1850s. This print shows how artists used the technique to copy scenes fast. It’s not a painting—it’s a press-made image on paper. Try making your own lithograph next.