A Chinese Peasant Selling Betel
1794
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
About the artist
1794
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
A Chinese Peasant Selling Betel is a 1794 ink by William Alexander, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
A man sits at a small wooden table, leaning on one elbow. His other hand holds a small container while he pours something onto a pile of green leaves. The table is cluttered with more leaves and a few other items. He wears simple clothes and looks focused on his task. The artist scribbled a note in the corner: *"This box filled with a powdered camphor, which he uses on the table."* The green leaves are betel, a common chew in some cultures. Next, look up watercolor, glazing to see how artists build up colors like this.
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