1844
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
The Prodigal Son is a 1844 ink by Honoré Daumier, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows two people walking away from us, their backs turned. The person on the left is slightly bent, holding something in their hand—maybe a hat or a bag. The other person walks beside them, their posture relaxed but a bit stiff. The lines are quick and rough, like the artist dashed it off in a hurry. The loose, sketchy style makes the scene feel more like a snapshot than a polished drawing. It’s almost like you’re catching a private moment between strangers. If you like this sketchy style, check out cross-hatching next.
Honoré-Victorin Daumier was a French painter, sculptor, and printmaker, whose many works offer commentary on the social and political life in France, from the Revolution of 1830 to the fall of the Second French Empire in 1870.
See the richer artist page
