Prostitution (La Prostitution)
1886
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1886
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Prostitution (La Prostitution) is a 1886 ink by Paul-Albert Besnard, a Impressionism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows two people in a dim room. One sits at a table with a lamp, their face half-lit. The other stands in the doorway, their body turned away, holding a basket. The walls and floor are filled with crisscrossed lines, like quick, nervous strokes. The word "SAHNQ" is scrawled at the top—maybe a sign or a mistake. The lamp’s glow is the only light, making the room feel heavy. This is made using etching, a technique where artists scratch into metal plates to create prints.
