Untitled

Untitled

Henri Matisse

1945

graphite

From the collection of Museum of Modern Art

About this work

This sketch shows a man wearing glasses and a hat, holding a cigarette in one hand and a pencil or brush in the other. His face is drawn in loose, quick lines, with a slight smile and a thoughtful look. The paper is light-colored, and the drawing feels sketchy and unfinished. The artist used simple lines to capture his features, focusing on shapes over details. The pencil strokes are light but confident, giving the drawing a lively feel. Next, check out cross-hatching to see how artists build shading with lines.

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