Artwork

Ancient Oaks in a Landscape

Ancient Oaks in a Landscape, by Wilhelm von Kobell, ink, 1792
Ancient Oaks in a Landscape, by Wilhelm von Kobell, ink, 1792

Ancient Oaks in a Landscape is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Wilhelm von Kobell. It dates from 1792 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

The ground around it is scattered with plants and shadows, and a distant village sits quietly in the background.

This image shows a lone, twisted tree standing in a dim forest clearing. Its gnarled branches stretch upward, while sunlight filters through the leaves above. The ground around it is scattered with plants and shadows, and a distant village sits quietly in the background.

The artist used shading to make the bark look rough and the sky feel distant. This print is from 1792, and the title means "an old oak" in French.

Next, check out the technique: aquatint to see how artists create soft, watery tones like these.

Overview

Ancient Oaks in a Landscape is a print created by Wilhelm von Kobell in 1792, combining etching and aquatint techniques on laid paper.

Subject & Meaning

The print depicts a solitary, twisted tree in a forest clearing, with a village visible in the distance. The title references the tree, evoking a sense of age and character.

Technique & Style

The artist employed shading to convey texture, rendering the tree's bark rough and the sky distant. Aquatint was used to achieve soft, tonal gradations, contributing to the overall atmospheric effect.

History & Provenance

Dated to 1792, Ancient Oaks in a Landscape is a product of Wilhelm von Kobell's work during the late 18th century.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Wilhelm von Kobell

Artist

Wilhelm von Kobell

Wilhelm von Kobell (1766–1853) was an artist, born in Mannheim.

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