A sepia-toned mezzotint by Frank Short depicting the Via Mala, a historic passage through the Swiss Alps. The print captures the dramatic landscape with a focus on light and shadow.

This mezzotint by Frank Short (1857-1945) depicts the Via Mala (meaning 'bad road' in Romansh), a section of the Swiss road through the Schamserberg gorge in the Canton of Graubünden. Short was a British artist known for his etchings, mezzotints, and watercolours, often featuring atmospheric effects and dramatic lighting. He studied at the Lambeth School of Art and became a leading figure in the revival of etching and engraving in Britain during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He also taught at the Royal College of Art. The Via Mala was historically a challenging passage through the Alps. The image shows a stone bridge spanning a deep chasm, with steep rock faces rising on either side. Figures with pack animals are crossing the bridge. The scene is rendered in sepia tones, with a focus on the contrast between light and shadow to convey the scale and drama of the landscape. The mezzotint technique allows for subtle gradations of tone, creating a sense of depth and atmosphere.