A Seated Soldier

Hippolyte Bellangé

1830

chalk

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Romanticism Early 19th Century

About this work

This sketch shows a soldier sitting with his legs stretched out. He’s wearing a loose coat, a tall hat, and a necktie. One hand rests on his knee while the other holds a long stick. The lines are rough and quick, like a hasty sketch. The artist used only black chalk, leaving the paper light-colored for contrast. This style makes the figure stand out without much detail. Next, look up Romanticism to see how this sketch fits into that movement.