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Paul Verlaine

Eugène Carrière

1878

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Romanticism Late 19th Century Portrait

Dominant colour

Paul Verlaine is a 1878 ink by Eugène Carrière, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Eugène Carrière
When & what style?: 1878 · Romanticism
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This is a black-and-white portrait of a man with a bald head and a thick, wavy beard. His face is turned slightly to the side, and his expression looks thoughtful. The background is plain and dark, focusing all attention on his face. The soft, sketchy lines suggest this was made quickly, almost like a drawing. It’s not a polished painting but feels personal, like a snapshot of a moment. If you like this style, look up lithography to see how artists made prints like this.