Why He Cannot Sleep
1866
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
About the artist
1866
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Dominant colour
Why He Cannot Sleep is a 1866 ink by Thomas Nast, a Impressionism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This black-and-white drawing shows a ghostly figure hovering over a sleeping man. The ghost has long, flowing hair and is reaching toward the man, who’s curled up under a blanket. A small window in the background lets in dim light, and outside you can see trees and a moonlit sky. The title at the bottom reads *"Why He Cannot Sleep"*—the ghost is keeping him awake. This was published in *Harper’s Weekly* in 1866, made using wood engraving. Next, look up engraving to see how artists carved these detailed images.
Your cart is empty
Explore artworks →
