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Head of a Boy

Wilhelm Leibl

1874

ink

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Impressionism Realism Late 19th Century Portrait

Dominant colour

Head of a Boy is a 1874 ink by Wilhelm Leibl, a Impressionism work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Wilhelm Leibl
When & what style?: 1874 · Impressionism
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This etching on Japanese paper presents a portrait of a boy, rendered in a range of dark and light tones. The boy's head is the central focus, with his face and hair depicted in detail. The background of the image is a solid, dark tone that serves to highlight the boy's features. The artist's use of light and shadow creates a sense of depth and dimensionality in the image. The boy's face is illuminated, while the background remains in shadow, drawing the viewer's attention to the subject. The delicate lines and subtle gradations of tone in this etching demonstrate the artist's skill and attention to detail. For more information on the artist's technique, look up the etching process.