1758
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
The Card Game (Der kleine l'Hombre Tisch) is a 1758 ink by Daniel Nikolaus Chodowiecki, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows three women in a dim room, playing cards. One sits at a small table, her hands folded over a deck, while another leans in, holding a candle. The third woman stands nearby, her back turned, holding a long object. Their clothes are fancy—lace collars, ruffles, and a fan—but the scene feels quiet and private, like a moment frozen in time. Notice how the artist used shading to show light from the candle, making the faces glow slightly. The lines are loose but precise, giving a sketchy yet detailed look. This style was common in the 1700s for quick, expressive drawings. If you like this style, look up etching to see how artists use acid and metal plates to create similar effects.
Daniel Niklaus Chodowiecki (16 October 1726 – 7 February 1801) was a German painter and printmaker of Huguenot and Polish ancestry, who is most famous as an etcher.
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