Portrait of Meryon Sitting Up in Bed
1858
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
1858
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
This sketch shows a person sitting in bed with a blanket pulled up. They’re leaning on one arm, looking down, with their other hand resting on their chest. A dark shape in the background might be a curtain or another person. The artist used quick, sketchy lines to show light and shadow, giving the scene a rough, unfinished feel. This style was common in mid-1800s France. Next, check out Realism to see how artists focused on everyday moments like this.
