1886
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Nude Holding Her Leg (Femme nue se tenant la jambe) is a 1886 ink by Paul-Albert Besnard, a Impressionism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows a woman’s back and arm, bent forward as she holds her leg. The lines are rough and busy, almost like quick scribbles. Her hair is drawn in thick, tangled strokes, and the paper has a grainy texture. The artist used a technique called drypoint—scratching directly into the metal plate to create fine, webby lines. This made the marks look fuzzy and expressive. Next, check out etching to see how artists like this one build texture with ink and metal.
Paul-Albert Besnard (1849–1934) was a French artist, born in 7th arrondissement of Paris.
See the richer artist page
