1874
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Orphans (Les orphelins (?)) is a 1874 ink by Alphonse Legros, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows three hooded figures standing in front of two tall trees. The trees are made of thick, tangled lines, almost like roots or branches. The people look small and wrapped in heavy cloth, with one person holding a child. The artist used sharp, scratchy lines to create texture—this is likely drypoint, a technique that leaves a rough edge. The scene feels quiet and maybe a little sad, but it’s not clear what’s happening. Next, check out technique: etching, drypoint, aquatint to see how artists like this make marks.
Alphonse Legros (French pronunciation: ; 8 May 1837 – 8 December 1911) was a French, later British, painter, etcher, sculptor, and medallist.
See the richer artist page
