Artwork

Goat in a Landscape

Goat in a Landscape, by Adam von Bartsch, ink, 1805
Goat in a Landscape, by Adam von Bartsch, ink, 1805

Goat in a Landscape is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Adam von Bartsch. It dates from 1805 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Goat in a Landscape is an 1805 etching on wove paper by Johann Adam von Bartsch, an Austrian engraver, etcher, and curator. The work features a solitary goat set against a minimalist, grassy landscape.

Subject & Meaning

Beyond a straightforward depiction, the etching serves as a study in contrast, emphasizing the goat's presence through compositional simplicity and nuanced textural rendering.

Technique & Style

Bartsch employed etching with drypoint to achieve a sharp, clean line quality and soft shading. The drypoint technique, evident in the goat's fur, adds a tactile, realistic depth to the subject.

History & Provenance

Created in 1805 by Bartsch, trained at the Vienna Kupferstecheracademie and curator of the Royal Court Library's print collection in Vienna. Now part of the National Gallery of Art, Washington.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Adam von Bartsch

Artist

Adam von Bartsch

Johann Adam Bernhard Ritter von Bartsch (17 August 1757 – 21 August 1821) was an Austrian scholar and artist.

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