1900
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
On the Lookout (Aux aguets) is a 1900 ink by Paul-Albert Besnard, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows three ghostly figures standing in a storm of wild, slashing lines. Their faces are blurred, and their bodies look like they’re wrapped in swirling fabric or wind. The lines around them feel chaotic, almost like a dark, tangled forest or a violent gust of wind. The artist used a technique that lets ink spread unevenly, creating those jagged, uneven marks. This isn’t a polished painting—it’s raw, like a quick sketch meant to capture movement and mood. Next, check out etching to see how artists like Besnard made prints with acid and metal plates.
Paul-Albert Besnard (1849–1934) was a French artist, born in 7th arrondissement of Paris.
See the richer artist page
