Madchen (Girl)

Madchen (Girl)

Walter Gramatté

1921

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

About this work

This sketch shows a woman’s face and shoulders, drawn in bold, jagged lines. Her hair is wild and wavy, framing her forehead. The background is filled with sharp, leaf-like shapes that look like they’re blowing around her. The artist used only black ink on light paper, making the lines stand out starkly. The face feels alive despite the simplicity—just a few strong strokes for the eyes and mouth. If you like this style, look up drypoint to see how it’s made.

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