Alexander Gabriel Descamps

About this work

This is a black-and-white drawing of a man standing indoors. He’s dressed in a long coat, holding a small book or notebook open in one hand. His beard is thick, and he’s wearing a white collar under a dark jacket. Behind him, there’s a draped curtain and a glimpse of a stone wall with a window frame. The artist used a technique that lets you see fine details in the lines and textures—like the folds in his coat or the fabric of the curtain. This kind of drawing was often used for portraits in the mid-1800s. Next, look up lithography to see how this image was made.