Artwork
Rocks and Waterfall
Rocks and Waterfall is an ink drawing by the Impressionist artist Casimir Clayton Griswold. It dates from 1878 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Casimir Clayton Griswold’s drawing *Rocks and Waterfall* (1878) presents a compact landscape rendered on wove paper. The composition centers on a narrow cascade that slices through a cluster of rugged stones, rendered in muted browns and grays with occasional white highlights that suggest the spray of water.
Subject & Meaning
The work captures a moment of natural stillness interrupted by the gentle motion of water. The stark, angular rocks convey the solidity of the earth, while the thin waterfall introduces a fleeting, dynamic element, emphasizing the contrast between permanence and transience in the natural world.
Technique & Style
Griswold employed pen and brown ink, applying a brown wash to establish tonal depth before adding white accents for highlights. The drawing relies on quick, sketchy strokes and cross‑hatching to model texture and shadow, producing a tactile surface that retains the immediacy of a hand‑drawn study.
History & Provenance
Created in 1878, the piece reflects Griswold’s late‑nineteenth‑century interest in plein‑air observation. It remains on paper, with the edges showing slight irregularities from handling, suggesting it was kept in a modest collection rather than a formal archival setting.
Artist & collection
