Richard Menzel Posing in Eighteenth-Century Costume
1854
graphite
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1854
graphite
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This sketch shows a man in old-fashioned clothes, standing sideways with one hand resting on his hip. His outfit looks like it’s from a long time ago—loose shirt, tight pants, and simple shoes. The drawing is mostly in shades of brown and gray, with some lighter lines to show folds in the fabric. The artist used quick, sketchy strokes to capture the pose and clothing. The paper has a warm, brown background that makes the figure stand out. This style was common for practice drawings back then. Next, check out Realism to see how artists focused on everyday life and accurate details.
![Figure of a Man [recto]](https://pub-3a17a9933ad74fb28aa30fa758592f23.r2.dev/artworks/31a0299707350915/thumb.webp)
![Man Wearing a Cloak [verso]](https://pub-3a17a9933ad74fb28aa30fa758592f23.r2.dev/artworks/0bd057994533d120/thumb.webp)
