1844
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Tikao, naturel d'Akaroa is a 1844 ink by Charles Meryon, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows a serious-looking person wrapped in a thick fur cloak. Their curly hair is wild, and the cloak covers their shoulders and chest. The drawing is rough, with lots of shading to show texture—especially in the fur and hair. The artist wrote "Tikao, naturel d'Akaroa" at the bottom, hinting this person is from New Zealand. The sketch feels urgent, like it was made quickly to capture their likeness. Check out cross-hatching to see how artists build shadows with layered lines.
Charles Meryon (sometimes Méryon, 23 November 1821 – 14 February 1868) was a French artist who worked almost entirely in etching, as he had colour blindness.
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