A Flock of Sheep before a Farmhouse
1840
graphite
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1840
graphite
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This sketch shows a group of sheep clustered near a small building, with trees and bushes around them. The lines are loose and quick, like a hurried sketch. The paper has a yellowish tint, and the graphite marks are light in some spots, darker in others. The artist used shading to give the sheep and trees a sense of depth, almost like they’re popping off the page. The scene feels a little dreamy, not perfectly detailed. Next, check out Romanticism to see how this style played with emotion and nature.
