Altenhausen bei Freysing
1821
chalk
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1821
chalk
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This sketch shows a dark forest with tall, skinny trees against a bright blue sky. The trees are drawn in black lines, and the background is washed with blue and gray. The paper itself is blue, so the dark lines pop against it. The artist used a mix of chalk and wash to create depth. The dark forest floor looks rough, almost like it’s made of quick, sketchy strokes. Next, check out the technique: chiaroscuro to see how light and shadow work together.
