Looking up the Cut from Bas Obispo

Joseph Pennell

National Gallery of Art

The image shows a landscape with a railway extending into the distance between hillsides. The horizon is high, with hills, vegetation, and a textured sky depicted. The brushstrokes are sketch-like, using black and white tones. Close to us, detailed vegetation contrasts with the railway. Farther away, the scene fades into lighter strokes, leading to hills in the background. The color palette emphasizes contrast and line work over color.