A Lady Wearing a Dormeuse Cap
1770
chalk
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
About the artist
1770
chalk
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
A Lady Wearing a Dormeuse Cap is a 1770 chalk by Nicolaas Muys, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This drawing shows a woman’s face and shoulders turned slightly to the side. She wears a white cap with a ruffled edge and a few red flowers tucked in. The background is just faint lines, keeping all the focus on her expression and the soft folds of her clothing. The artist used red and black chalk to create gentle shadows and light spots, making the face look three-dimensional. This sketch style was common in the 1700s for quick but detailed portraits. Next, check out the technique: chiaroscuro to see how light and shadow create depth in drawings.
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