Carmen
1885
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
About the artist
Artist
Paul-Albert Besnard
Paul-Albert Besnard (1849–1934) was a French artist, born in 7th arrondissement of Paris.
See the richer artist page1885
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Carmen is a 1885 ink by Paul-Albert Besnard, a Impressionism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows a woman’s face and shoulders turned slightly away. Her hair is pulled back under a hat, and she wears a high collar. The lines are loose and quick, like pencil strokes, but darker in some spots. The artist used a tool called roulette—tiny dots made by a spoked wheel—to add texture to her hair and hat. It’s a clever trick to show light and shape without heavy shading. Next, check out etching to see how artists like this one use acid and plates to create prints.
Paul-Albert Besnard (1849–1934) was a French artist, born in 7th arrondissement of Paris.
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