1883
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
A Bit on Marblehead Neck is a 1883 ink by James David Smillie, a Impressionism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows a quiet coastal scene with a rocky shore and a small hill. In the foreground, a sheep grazes near bushes and a lone tree. The water is calm, with a few boats far out on the horizon, and the sky is lightly etched with clouds. The artist used fine lines to capture the textures of rocks, grass, and water—almost like a pencil drawing but with ink. Notice how the sheep’s wool is just a few quick strokes, not every detail. Next, look up etching to see how artists like this one carve into metal plates to make prints.
James David Smillie was an American artist, cofounder of the American Watercolor Society and New York Etching Club. His brother was painter George Henry Smillie.
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