Half-Figure of an Old Woman with a Cap
1535
charcoal
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1535
charcoal
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This sketch shows an older woman wearing a white cap and a loose, light-colored dress. Her face is lined, and her hands rest in her lap. The background is a plain, greenish wash, making her stand out. The lines are soft and sketchy, with some darker shading around her eyes and mouth. The artist used simple charcoal strokes to capture her expression. The green wash was added later, which is unusual for this kind of drawing. If you like this style, look up scumbling to see how artists create soft shading.
