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The image shows a view from a shaded, tree-covered area with an open wooden gate dominating the right side. A path is visible through the gateway, surrounded by dense foliage. The horizon is seen in the distance with trees capturing light. The artwork is an intricate etching with detailed lines and crosshatching creating texture and depth. The color palette is monochromatic, using shades of black and gray to give a timeless visual impact typical of etchings.
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The image shows a view from a shaded, tree-covered area with an open wooden gate dominating the right side. A path is visible through the gateway, surrounded by dense foliage. The horizon is seen in the distance with trees capturing light. The artwork is an intricate etching with detailed lines and crosshatching creating texture and depth. The color palette is monochromatic, using shades of black and gray to give a timeless visual impact typical of etchings.

National Gallery of Art · Print

A Rustic Gate beside a Lake

Salomon Gessner

Date
1764
Medium
etching on laid paper
Dimensions
plate: 21.8 x 19 cm (8 9/16 x 7 1/2 in.) sheet: 29.6 x 26 cm (11 5/8 x 10 1/4 in.)
Classification
Print
Accession number
1996.12.3
Credit line
Ailsa Mellon Bruce Fund
Time span
1751 to 1775
Department
CG-E
Original NGA record Wikidata

Portfolio and series

Series
X paysages dédiés à Mr. Watelet auteur du poème sur l'art de peindre (Ten Landscapes Dedicated to Mr. Watelet, Author of the Poem on the Art of Painting) [Lehmann-van Elck 1-10]

Subjects and terms

  • etching
  • Landscape
  • Rustic
  • topographical
  • landscape
  • Swiss
Provenance

Unidentified collector (blind stamp, EM, Lugt 885); Prof. Dr. Richard Jung, probably Switzerland or Germany [1911-1986] (Lugt undescribed); (Lutz Riester), Switzerland; purchased 1996 by NGA.

Inscription

lower right in plate: S.Gessner.f; lower center in plate: 3.; by later hand, lower right in ink: A.

Watermarks

Shield with fleur-de-lis (partial watermark)

NGA object ID 94136. 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.