1895
charcoal
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Woman Floating in a River Attended by Several Female Spirits is a 1895 charcoal by Frederick Trapp Friis, a Impressionism work, depicting Bathing, held at National Gallery of Art.
A woman drifts on her back in dark water while four ghostly figures hover above her. Their long hair and loose robes blend into the river, as if they’re made of the same misty light. This sketch was made with charcoal and a trick—ink spattered across the paper to look like water spray. Friis died the same year he drew it, so we don’t know if he planned a full painting or if this was the final idea. The floating figures feel like a dream, but the technique is quick and real. To see how other artists turned fleeting moments into solid marks, look up the technique cross-hatching.
Frederick Trapp Friis (1895–1895) was an artist.
See the richer artist page
