English Peasant (Paysan anglais)
1874
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1874
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This sketch shows a man’s side profile with wild, curly hair and a thick beard. His face is turned slightly away, and the lines are loose and sketchy, like quick pencil strokes. The background is plain, so all the focus is on his hair and beard. The artist used a scratchy, textured style to show the man’s rough, unkempt look. This kind of drawing was often used to capture real people in a raw, honest way. Next, check out etching to see how artists like this made detailed prints with sharp lines.
