Four Figures
1921
graphite
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1921
graphite
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Four Figures is a 1921 graphite by Arthur Bowen Davies, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows four naked people lying down in odd poses. Their arms and legs stretch out in different directions, like tangled ropes. The lines are loose and wobbly, almost like a quick doodle. The artist used ink and wash on fabric stuck to paper. The faces are simple, almost like stick figures with a hint of shading. Check out cross-hatching to see how artists build shading with lines.
