Head of a Boy
1888
graphite
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1888
graphite
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This sketch shows a boy’s face in profile, drawn in loose pencil lines. His hair is short, and his jaw is strong but soft. One hand holds a small object, maybe a stick or a tool. The page looks old, with a yellowed edge where it’s folded. The artist left some areas blank, like the boy’s ear, to focus on light and shadow. This was a quick study, not a finished drawing. Look up Realism to see how artists like Cezanne focused on everyday life.
