A Landscape with a Herd of Cows and Goats, Surmounted by Another Landscape, Upside-down, with a Man Pushing a Wheelbarrow
1800
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1800
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This drawing shows a herd of cows and goats walking along a winding dirt path through a hilly, tree-covered landscape. In the background, upside-down, is another scene with a man pushing a wheelbarrow. The lines are made with pen and ink, creating shadows and textures that look almost like a sketch. The upside-down image is a trick—it’s meant to surprise you. The artist played with how we see things, mixing two different views in one picture. Look up cross-hatching to see how artists build shadows with lines.
