Théodore Rousseau (1812–1867)
Pond at the Edge of the Woods, 1853
Graphite on paper
7 1/2 x 12 13/16 in. (19.1 x 32.5 cm)
Bequest of Charles A. Ryskamp, 2010
With nothing more than a pencil, Rousseau produces a wide tonal range and brilliant luminosity in this view of a marshy clearing. Varying the direction and length of his strokes, he conveys the textures of foliage and grass and the play of light across their variegated surfaces.