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A Poem without Words

Henry Mosler

1886

ink

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Impressionism Realism Late 19th Century

Dominant colour

A Poem without Words is a 1886 ink by Henry Mosler, a Impressionism work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Henry Mosler
When & what style?: 1886 · Impressionism
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This sketch looks like a quick, messy drawing of a crowd. People are packed together, some standing, some sitting, all jumbled up. The lines are loose and wobbly, almost like scribbles, with dark ink and light wash splashes. At the top, there’s a title: *"To dear Edith"* and a date: *17.6.86*. The artist signed it *"from the father"*—so this might be a personal note. The mix of writing and drawing feels intimate, like a letter with doodles. Want to see more of this style? Check out cross-hatching.

About the artist

Artist

Henry Mosler

Henry Mosler (June 6, 1841 – April 21, 1920) was a German-born painter who documented American life, including colonial themes, Civil War illustrations, and portraits of men and women of society.

See the richer artist page