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Gretchen Murdering Her Child

Emanuel Leutze

1852

ink

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Impressionism Realism Early 19th Century

Dominant colour

Gretchen Murdering Her Child is a 1852 ink by Emanuel Leutze, a Impressionism work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Emanuel Leutze
When & what style?: 1852 · Impressionism
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This painting shows a woman standing in a body of water, holding a child in her arms. The woman is dressed in a long, flowing gown and has a look of sadness on her face. The child is also dressed in a long gown and appears to be lifeless. In the background, there are some trees and bushes, but they are not clearly defined. The overall mood of the painting is one of sadness and tragedy. The use of dark colors and the woman's expression contribute to this mood. The artist's use of cross-hatching creates a sense of texture and depth in the painting. This technique is characteristic of the Realism movement, which emphasizes accurate and detailed depictions of everyday life.