River scene with boats
1840
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
1840
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
This sketch shows a river with two boats. One boat in the front is long and has a tall mast with a striped sail. A few people are on it—some standing, some sitting, all dressed in loose clothes. The water is calm, and the background has a faint outline of hills and a tower in the distance. The drawing uses quick, sketchy lines to show light and shadow. The sail’s stripes and the people’s clothing stand out against the softer, lighter water and sky. Look up cross-hatching to see how artists build up tones with lines.
