a) In the Trenches (recto); b) Study for In the Trenches (verso)
1916
crayon
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1916
crayon
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This sketch shows a soldier crouched in a trench, his back to us. His coat is thick and dark, blending into the shadows. A helmet sits on his head, and his hands grip a rifle. The ground around him is rough, with dirt and a few scattered sticks. The lines are loose and quick, like a hurried note. The artist used shading to show depth, especially in the folds of the soldier’s coat. The drawing feels rough and fast, like it was made on the spot. Next, check out cross-hatching to see how artists build shadows with lines.
