After Strife
1922
charcoal
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1922
charcoal
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This sketch shows three nude figures tangled together on a rough, gray background. One person is lying on their stomach, reaching out toward another who’s hunched over a rock. The third figure leans in close, almost touching the second person’s back. The colors are mostly warm browns and blacks, with quick, rough strokes. The paper looks worn, like it’s been handled a lot. The figures aren’t perfectly drawn—they’re more like quick, messy notes than finished shapes. Next, check out pastel to see how artists use soft, blendable sticks of color.
