Untitled

Untitled

Ernst Barlach

1927

charcoal

From the collection of Museum of Modern Art

About this work

This drawing shows a tall, thin figure standing straight up. The person’s face is calm but serious, with a slight smile. They’re wearing a long, loose robe that drapes down to the floor, and their hands rest near their chest. The lines are dark and sketchy, almost like pencil on paper. The artist used quick, rough strokes to show folds in the robe and the texture of the hair. It feels like a fast sketch rather than a finished portrait. Check out scumbling to see how artists create shading with tiny dots and strokes.

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