Nude with Cherubim
1870
charcoal
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1870
charcoal
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This drawing shows a woman with one arm raised, her back turned to us. She’s lit by a soft glow that picks out the curve of her neck and shoulder. The artist used charcoal to make thick, rough lines. He mixed this with smudged patches of light and dark. It makes the woman feel real but also dreamy. If you like how light and shadow mix, look up Babcock, William Perkins.
