Landscape with Birch Trees (Le Paysage aux Bouleaux)

Alphonse Legros

National Gallery of Art

The image depicts a narrow, winding pathway flanked by tall, slender trees. The trees' trunks rise towards the sky on both sides of the path. On the left, the trees are densely packed, creating a shadowy area, while on the right, they are spaced out, allowing light to filter through. The path curves uphill and there is no visible horizon. The artwork employs fine lines and hatching to convey texture and depth, and features a monochrome palette of blacks, whites, and greys that creates a serene visual impact.