Le retour de l'enfant prodigue (3e planche) (The Return of the Prodigal Son) (third plate)
1909
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From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1909
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This sketch shows a woman kneeling by a small fire, her long hair wild and tangled. She’s holding a child close, while another child sits nearby, reaching toward her. The background is faint—a house and a tree—but the focus is on the woman’s rough, drawn lines and the raw emotion in her posture. The artist used quick, scratchy marks to show movement and exhaustion. The paper has a textured look, like the scene itself feels uneven and real. Next, check out etching to see how artists like this one create prints with needles and acid.
