1899
graphite
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Heads of a Man and a Woman is a 1899 graphite by Adolph von Menzel, a Impressionism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows two heads—one man, one woman—drawn in quick, loose lines. Their faces are simple but expressive, with soft shading. Behind them, a palm tree and a sailboat are barely sketched in, almost like afterthoughts. The drawing feels rough and fast, like the artist worked quickly. The lines are smudged in places, giving it a warm, uneven look. Next, check out chiaroscuro to see how light and shadow create depth in drawings.
Adolph Friedrich Erdmann von Menzel was a German Realist artist noted for drawings, etchings, and paintings.
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