Artwork
A Woodland River with a Fisherman

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.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Adolphe Appian (born as Jacques Barthelemy Adolphe Appian; 28 August 1819 – 29 April 1898) was a French landscape painter and etcher.

















