1874
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Vagabond Moving along a Lane (Un vagabond passant dans une ruelle) is a 1874 ink by Alphonse Legros, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows a lone person walking down a narrow path. They’re bent over, carrying a bundle on their back, and wearing a wide-brimmed hat. The path is lined with trees and bushes, drawn with quick, scratchy lines that make the scene feel rough and uneven. The artist used a technique that leaves dark, textured marks—like scratching into the surface before inking it. This makes the whole image look a little gritty, as if the person and the path are both half-hidden in shadow. Want to see more? Look up etching to understand how this kind of drawing works.
Alphonse Legros (French pronunciation: ; 8 May 1837 – 8 December 1911) was a French, later British, painter, etcher, sculptor, and medallist.
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