Two Men Arguing
1835
graphite
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1835
graphite
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Two Men Arguing is a 1835 graphite by Paul Gavarni, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows two people mid-argument on a city street. One man holds a rolled-up paper or stick, his mouth open like he’s shouting. The other person, seen from behind, wears a dark coat and a hat with a feather. The lines are quick and loose, with light shading to show movement. The artist used simple graphite strokes to capture the energy of the moment. The sketch feels raw and fast, like a snapshot of everyday life. Next, check out Romanticism to see how this style focused on real-life scenes.
