Head of a Girl
1777
chalk
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1777
chalk
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This drawing shows a girl’s face turned slightly to the side, her hair pulled back but loose strands framing her cheeks. The lines are soft and smudged, like quick chalk strokes. One arm rests on a rolled-up cloth, and her gaze is calm but serious. The artist used loose, sketchy lines to show light and shadow—almost like a quick study. This style was common in the early days of Romanticism. Next, check out Romanticism to see how artists used emotion and movement in their work.
