Artwork

A Woodland River with a Fisherman

A Woodland River with a Fisherman, by Adolphe Appian, charcoal, 1858
A Woodland River with a Fisherman, by Adolphe Appian, charcoal, 1858

A Woodland River with a Fisherman is a charcoal drawing by the Romanticist artist Adolphe Appian. It dates from 1858 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

A Woodland River with a Fisherman is a drawing by French artist Adolphe Appian, executed in 1858 on wove paper using a combination of charcoal, chalk, brushed washes, and scratching techniques.

Subject & Meaning

The drawing portrays a serene natural setting: a woodland riverbank where a lone fisherman stands, embodying a moment of tranquility within the landscape.

Technique & Style

Appian's detailed rendering of the natural world in this piece exemplifies his characteristic attention to detail, achieved through the layered use of charcoal for depth, chalk for highlights, and scratching out to refine textures and light effects.

History & Provenance

Created in 1858, the work reflects Appian's contribution to the 19th-century French landscape tradition, though specific provenance details (ownership history) are not provided in the available information.

Context

This drawing aligns with the 19th-century artistic focus on landscape as a subject for both study and aesthetic pleasure, highlighting the era's appreciation for natural beauty.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Adolphe Appian

Artist

Adolphe Appian

Adolphe Appian (born as Jacques Barthelemy Adolphe Appian; 28 August 1819 – 29 April 1898) was a French landscape painter and etcher.

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: National Gallery of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.