1790
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Dominant colour
The Glärnisch Massif in Switzerland is a 1790 ink by Swiss 18th Century, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This painting shows a tall, jagged mountain range rising behind a green valley. In the foreground, a winding path cuts through rocks and bushes, with a few small trees scattered around. A lone cabin sits near the right edge, and two horses graze by a stream. The colors are soft—light blues for the sky, muted greens and browns for the trees and rocks. The artist used thin layers of watercolor to blend the mountain shadows and sky. This makes the scene feel calm but also grand, like the mountains are watching over everything. Next, check out how artists used watercolor, glazing to create depth in landscapes.
Switzerland’s late 1700s artists loved crisp mountain views. This hand drew one of the most famous peaks, the Glärnisch, using fine lines and soft color washes. The paper still shows faint pencil under the ink and…
See the richer artist page
