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Studies of Men

Emanuel Leutze

1854

graphite

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Romanticism Early 19th Century Portrait

Dominant colour

Studies of Men is a 1854 graphite by Emanuel Leutze, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Emanuel Leutze
When & what style?: 1854 · Romanticism
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This sketch shows three quick drawings of men’s heads in profile. The lines are loose and sketchy, like hurried notes. One man holds a pipe, another has a calm, serious look, and the third is barely started—just a faint outline. The paper is plain, and the graphite strokes vary from dark to light, giving a sense of depth without much detail. This style was common for artists practicing faces before finishing a painting. Next, check out Romanticism to see how this sketch fits into that movement’s focus on emotion and quick, expressive strokes.