1612
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Dominant colour
Fishermen by an Island Watermill is a 1612 ink by Aegidius Sadeler II, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This engraving shows a busy riverside scene with people fishing and working near a small island. A large tree stands on the island, and a watermill with a wheel is tucked behind it. In the foreground, fishermen stand on the bank, some in boats, while others gather plants or tend to nets. The background has a village, distant hills, and a few boats on the water. Notice how the artist uses fine lines to build up shadows and textures—this is called cross-hatching. The scene feels lively but also quiet, with tiny details like the birds and plants adding depth. Next, look up cross-hatching to see how artists create depth with just lines.
Aegidius Sadeler or Aegidius Sadeler II (1570–1629) was a Flemish engraver who was principally active at the Prague court of Rudolf II, Holy Roman Emperor and his successors.
See the richer artist page
