1880
graphite
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Dominant colour
Atlases on the Wallpavillon of the Dresden Zwinger is a 1880 graphite by Adolph von Menzel, a Impressionism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows two muscular male figures carved into a wall, holding up a heavy structure. Their bodies are twisted in unnatural poses, with bulging muscles and rough skin. The background looks like a textured stone wall with a faint archway behind them. The artist focused on how the figures’ bodies strain under the weight, using shadows to show their effort. The drawing looks like it was made with soft pencil strokes, blending the lines to create depth. Look up Menzel, Adolph to see how he captured movement in other works.
Adolph Friedrich Erdmann von Menzel was a German Realist artist noted for drawings, etchings, and paintings.
See the richer artist page
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