The Donkey Led to the River
1628
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
About the artist
Artist
Herman van Swanevelt
Herman van Swanevelt (1603–1655) was a Dutch artist, born in Woerden.
See the richer artist page1628
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
The Donkey Led to the River is a 1628 ink by Herman van Swanevelt, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This etching shows a quiet forest scene with a winding path and a small stream. A donkey stands near the water, while two people—one bending down—work by the riverbank. Trees fill the background, their branches tangled and detailed. The sky is faint but visible through the leaves, and a few birds or small figures move in the distance. The artist used fine lines to show texture, like the rough bark of trees or the ripples in the water. This kind of close attention to detail was common in etchings, where the plate is scratched to create the image. Next, look up etching to see how artists like this made prints.
Herman van Swanevelt (1603–1655) was a Dutch artist, born in Woerden.
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