Walk in the Shadow

Ernst Barlach

1922

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Early Modern

About this work

This sketch shows two figures walking side by side under a dark, heavy sky. The lines are rough and uneven, almost like scratches on paper. One figure is slightly ahead, and both seem to be moving through a dim, shadowy space. The artist used a simple tool—maybe just a pencil or charcoal—to create the whole piece. The texture looks almost raw, like the drawing was made quickly or with deliberate roughness. Want to see more work like this? Look up lithography to learn how artists make prints like this one.