Artwork
The Angry Mother
The Angry Mother is a graphite drawing by the Baroque artist Jean-Baptiste Greuze. It dates from 1765 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
The Angry Mother is a drawing created by French artist Jean-Baptiste Greuze in 1765. Executed in black and gray wash over graphite on laid paper, it exemplifies Greuze's skill in capturing emotional intensity.
Subject & Meaning
The drawing depicts a dramatic domestic scene: a seated mother, visibly angry, grasps the arm of a standing young woman, who appears distressed, while a child clings to her dress. The emotional tension is heightened by the mother's facial expression and the figures' body language.
Technique & Style
Greuze employed black and gray wash over graphite to achieve a range of tonal values and textures, creating depth in the scene. The drawing's dramatic lighting and intense emotions evoke the Baroque style, despite being produced in the 18th century.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Jean-Baptiste Greuze (French pronunciation: 21 August 1725 – 4 March 1805) was a French painter of portraits, genre scenes, and history painting.
