Dalles of the St. Louis

Alfred R. Waud

National Gallery of Art

The image shows a tumultuous river with rapids, viewed from a slightly elevated perspective with rushing water. The horizon is obscured by a dense forest of tall trees. The line engravings suggest a traditional etching technique, with strokes capturing the movement of water and texture of the rocky landscape. The color palette is monochromatic with shades of brown and black for depth and contrast. Closest to us, the water crashes against rocks creating swirling patterns and frothy waves, while the water continues to cascade into the distance, where the forest rises against the sky.