The image shows a downward perspective, appearing to be from a mountainside looking into a valley. The horizon is partly visible but mostly hidden by mountains and trees. The artwork features light and sketchy brushstrokes with graphite or pencil marks adding texture to trees and rocks, giving depth to the scene. The color palette is mostly monochromatic, using shades of gray to depict shadowed and sunlit areas. Closest to the viewer are rocks and vegetation leading down to the valley, with the scene transitioning into thick woodland and rocky slopes in the background.
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The image shows a downward perspective, appearing to be from a mountainside looking into a valley. The horizon is partly visible but mostly hidden by mountains and trees. The artwork features light and sketchy brushstrokes with graphite or pencil marks adding texture to trees and rocks, giving depth to the scene. The color palette is mostly monochromatic, using shades of gray to depict shadowed and sunlit areas. Closest to the viewer are rocks and vegetation leading down to the valley, with the scene transitioning into thick woodland and rocky slopes in the background.

National Gallery of Art · Drawing

Avalanche in an Alpine Landscape

Pierre Puvis de Chavannes

Date
c. 1870
Medium
black and white chalk on blue paper (verso)
Dimensions
overall: 35.9 x 23.9 cm (14 1/8 x 9 7/16 in.)
Classification
Drawing
Accession number
2007.66.1.b
Credit line
Maxwell Fund
Time span
1851 to 1875
Department
CG-E

Subjects and terms

  • French
  • Landscape
  • Tree
  • Mountain
  • Rock
  • Nature
Provenance

(Patrick Derom Gallery, New York); purchased 2007 by NGA.

NGA object ID 138648. Collection metadata is reproduced under CC0. This work is included because its NGA published-image record is marked open access; visitors should recheck the source record before substantial reuse.