The Little Bridge
1655
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
About the artist
1655
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
The Little Bridge is a 1655 ink by Jacob van Ruisdael, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This black-and-white print shows a quiet scene of a small wooden bridge crossing a narrow stream. On the left, a big tree grows right next to a rickety wooden tower with lots of windows. The ground is uneven, with rocks and bushes scattered around. A lone figure walks along the bridge, carrying something over their shoulder. The artist used fine lines to show texture—notice how the leaves and wood grain look almost real. This kind of detailed linework is typical of etchings, where the artist scratches into a metal plate. Next, look up etching to see how artists create prints like this one.
