The Proverbs: Simpleton
1864
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
1864
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
This sketch shows two people wrestling in a dark, shadowy space. One person is shirtless, squatting with arms raised, while the other wears a long, loose robe and is bent forward. Their faces are twisted in effort or pain, and the lines are rough and quick. The artist used strong contrasts between light and dark to make the scene feel dramatic. The figures look like they’re struggling, but it’s not clear who’s winning. Check out chiaroscuro to see how this lighting trick works in other art.
