Open full image Pin

Forest Treetops Struck by Light

Heinrich Rieter

1800

chalk

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Romanticism Early 19th Century Landscape

Dominant colour

Forest Treetops Struck by Light is a 1800 chalk by Heinrich Rieter, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Heinrich Rieter
When & what style?: 1800 · Romanticism
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This sketch shows a forest seen from above, with trees clustered in dark, rough patches. The branches twist together, and the trunks fade into the blue-gray background. Light hits a few spots, making some areas glow faintly against the shadows. The artist used chalk on blue paper, blending colors with their fingers to soften edges. The light areas look almost smudged, like sunlight breaking through clouds. Next, check out the technique: chiaroscuro to see how light and shadow create drama.