Wooded Landscape with Putti Helping a Woman Undress
1862
crayon
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1862
crayon
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This sketch shows a woman standing in a dim, shadowy forest. Two small, winged figures—putti—are helping her remove her clothes, their movements quick and urgent. The trees loom darkly around them, their trunks thick and tangled, while the ground is a mix of rough bark and scattered leaves. The artist used only black and white crayon, pressing hard in some spots to create deep shadows and soft strokes for lighter areas. The effect makes the scene feel both mysterious and alive. Next, look up chiaroscuro to see how this dramatic lighting works in other art.
