1874
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Study for the Head of a Man (Etude de tete d'homme) is a 1874 ink by Alphonse Legros, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows a face and hair drawn in quick, tangled lines. The paper is light green, and the lines are dark and scratchy, almost like scribbles. The face is simple—just a few marks for eyes, nose, and mouth—but the hair swirls all around it. The artist used a technique that makes the lines look rough and layered, like scratching into the surface. This was a practice sketch, not a finished piece. Next, check out etching to see how artists create similar textures.
Alphonse Legros (French pronunciation: ; 8 May 1837 – 8 December 1911) was a French, later British, painter, etcher, sculptor, and medallist.
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