Agnes von Felsen
1822
graphite
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1822
graphite
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This sketch shows a woman’s face and shoulders, drawn in soft graphite. Her hair is pulled back, and she wears a high-necked dress with a simple lace trim. The lines are loose but careful, focusing on her serious expression and the gentle shadows on her skin. The artist used light shading to show depth, especially around her eyes and jaw. This kind of drawing was common in the early 1800s for quick studies or practice. Next, check out chiaroscuro to see how artists used light and shadow like this.
