The Reading
1770
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1770
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
The Reading is a 1770 by Jean Honoré Fragonard, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows two women in a dimly lit room. One sits in a big, loose dress, holding a book and looking down. The other stands nearby, half-turned, with a fan in her hand. The walls and furniture are dark and shadowy, but the women’s clothes stand out in lighter tones. The loose brushstrokes and soft edges give it a quick, sketchy feel—like a first draft. The lighting is uneven, with some areas almost glowing and others fading into darkness. Next, check out chiaroscuro to see how artists use light and shadow like this.
