1801
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Dominant colour
Head of an Old Man is a 1801 ink by British 19th Century, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows an older man’s face in quick, loose lines. The artist used only brown ink on paper, leaving the background mostly blank. His hands rest on his chin, and his hair and beard are drawn with rough, sketchy strokes. The drawing feels fast and a little messy—like the artist worked quickly to capture the man’s expression. It’s not polished, but that’s part of its charm. If you like this style, check out cross-hatching next.
This artist’s short life left behind a quiet obsession with water—whether the churn of a mill wheel, the choppy waves off England’s south coast, or the way light bounces off pond lilies.
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