1874
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Dominant colour
The Bass Player (Le joueur de contre-basse) is a 1874 ink by Alphonse Legros, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows a bearded man holding a large stringed instrument—likely a bass—resting it on his shoulder. His left hand grips the neck while his right hand adjusts something on the body. The lines are loose and expressive, with quick strokes that suggest movement and texture, especially in his sleeve and beard. The artist focused on capturing the musician’s intense concentration, almost as if he’s lost in playing. The sketch feels alive despite being in black and white, thanks to the varied line weights. Next, look up etching to see how this technique creates such rich detail.
Alphonse Legros (French pronunciation: ; 8 May 1837 – 8 December 1911) was a French, later British, painter, etcher, sculptor, and medallist.
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