Artwork preview

Footbridge in Forest (from Sketchbook X)

William Trost Richards

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

The image depicts a sketch of a footbridge situated in a forest. The sketch is rendered in black and white, with a predominantly white background on the left side that gradually transitions to a detailed drawing on the right. The drawing features a small footbridge constructed from wooden planks, spanning a shallow stream or depression. The bridge has a simple railing on both sides, composed of vertical posts connected by horizontal rails. In the background, a dense forest is depicted with numerous tall, slender trees, their trunks and branches varying in shade to convey depth. The trees are drawn with a mix of lines and shading, creating a sense of texture and dimensionality. The overall effect of the sketch is one of a serene and natural setting, captured in a simple yet evocative style. The sketch appears to be done in pencil or a similar medium, with visible marks and smudges adding to its informal, sketchbook-like quality. The title of the work is "Footbridge in Forest (from Sketchbook X)" and the artist is William Trost Richards.

Artwork Details

Date
1885
Medium
Graphite on off-white wove paper
Culture
American
Dimensions
600 × 260 px
Public Domain
Yes
Museum Record
View original
Palette