An Actor's Holiday
1867
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
1867
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
This black-and-white sketch shows two men in a dimly lit room. One man stands with his back to us, adjusting his coat and holding a cane, while the other leans against a wall, looking down at something in his hand. The walls are lined with framed pictures, and light falls unevenly, creating strong shadows. The artist plays with light and dark to make the scene feel real and dramatic. Notice how the shadows on the wall and the folds in the clothing look almost three-dimensional. Next, check out chiaroscuro to see how artists use light and shadow like this.
