Artwork

Landscape with a Wooded Ravine

Landscape with a Wooded Ravine, by Antonie Waterloo, chalk, 1650
Landscape with a Wooded Ravine, by Antonie Waterloo, chalk, 1650

Landscape with a Wooded Ravine is a chalk drawing by the Baroque artist Antonie Waterloo. It dates from 1650 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Landscape with a Wooded Ravine is a drawing executed by the Dutch artist Anthonie Waterloo around 1650. Rendered on laid paper, the work measures the artist’s interest in natural scenery, depicting a forested gorge with a sense of depth and atmosphere.

Technique & Style

The composition is rendered in black chalk, over which Waterloo applied a gray wash to model form and tone. Highlights of white pigment are added to intensify light effects, creating contrast between shadowed foliage and illuminated spaces. The use of laid paper contributes a subtle texture that enhances the drawing’s tonal range.

Subject & Meaning

The image presents a wooded ravine, a common motif in 17th‑century Dutch landscape art that reflects an appreciation for untamed nature. The secluded gorge invites contemplation of the interplay between light and shadow, suggesting a quiet, perhaps pastoral, environment beyond human activity.

History & Provenance

Created circa 1650, the drawing remains a representative example of Waterloo’s oeuvre, though details of its ownership history are sparse. Its survival on paper indicates careful preservation, allowing contemporary viewers to assess the artist’s handling of medium and composition.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Antonie Waterloo

Artist

Antonie Waterloo

Antonie Waterloo (1609–1690) was a Dutch artist, born in Lille.

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