Two Heads; Studies of Sheep [recto]
1886
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
![Two Heads; Studies of Sheep [recto]](https://pub-3a17a9933ad74fb28aa30fa758592f23.r2.dev/artworks/d045b25e15a504f5/full.webp)
1886
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This sketch shows two quick drawings of faces—one looking up, one turned slightly away—along with loose sketches of sheep. The lines are simple, almost like doodles, with light shading. The paper has a yellowish tone, and the ink looks dry in spots. The sheep studies are rough but full of movement, with just a few lines suggesting wool and posture. Gauguin often worked fast, capturing ideas over details. Next, check out cross-hatching to see how artists build shadows with layered lines.
![Five Sheep; Head of a Woman and Head of a Bearded Man [recto]](https://pub-3a17a9933ad74fb28aa30fa758592f23.r2.dev/artworks/b52e1d9f193e7f08/thumb.webp)
![Five Sheep; Four Head Studies [verso]](https://pub-3a17a9933ad74fb28aa30fa758592f23.r2.dev/artworks/c7b13148bfdbb0ae/thumb.webp)
![Trees; Sketch of Breton Boy [verso]](https://pub-3a17a9933ad74fb28aa30fa758592f23.r2.dev/artworks/ffac7faa10ac7e52/thumb.webp)
![Eye and Part of Face; A Breton Woman and Two Men [recto]](https://pub-3a17a9933ad74fb28aa30fa758592f23.r2.dev/artworks/81c9125f35b9b9e6/thumb.webp)
![Five Studies of Heads; A Boy in Profile with Studies of Hands and Feet [verso]](https://pub-3a17a9933ad74fb28aa30fa758592f23.r2.dev/artworks/71c9c87fde7c63ab/thumb.webp)
![Two Cow's Heads [verso]](https://pub-3a17a9933ad74fb28aa30fa758592f23.r2.dev/artworks/d880ac31a237a947/thumb.webp)
![A Man Leaning on a Wall with Five Other Studies; Two Bearded Men Wearing Hats, and Five Other Studies [recto]](https://pub-3a17a9933ad74fb28aa30fa758592f23.r2.dev/artworks/2df262058c2bfe48/thumb.webp)
![Boy's Face; Two Sheep [verso]](https://pub-3a17a9933ad74fb28aa30fa758592f23.r2.dev/artworks/dc41a7e795977a82/thumb.webp)
![A Breton Woman Walking; Sketch with Stairs [verso]](https://pub-3a17a9933ad74fb28aa30fa758592f23.r2.dev/artworks/5957dfa28320cc03/thumb.webp)
![Two Head Studies and a Crouching Nude Woman; Two Women's Heads and a Head of Child [recto]](https://pub-3a17a9933ad74fb28aa30fa758592f23.r2.dev/artworks/fe3fee334eaa34d1/thumb.webp)
![Two Studies of a Child's Head; Two Studies of a Child's Head, a Woman in Profile, and a Man Wrestling an Animal [recto]](https://pub-3a17a9933ad74fb28aa30fa758592f23.r2.dev/artworks/6667f6008af9d50c/thumb.webp)
![Man Playing Piano; Two Sheep [verso]](https://pub-3a17a9933ad74fb28aa30fa758592f23.r2.dev/artworks/80f685776a7d92dd/thumb.webp)
