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Historical Costumes

Luis Paret y Alcázar

1780

ink

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Romanticism 18th Century

Dominant colour

Historical Costumes is a 1780 ink by Luis Paret y Alcázar, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Luis Paret y Alcázar
When & what style?: 1780 · Romanticism
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This sketchbook page shows quick, loose drawings of people in old-fashioned clothes. There are eight figures total—four women and four men—posed in different outfits. Some wear wide skirts, others have long coats or hats. One man is riding a horse, and another holds a fan. The lines are light and sketchy, like notes for a bigger drawing. These drawings look like practice for something bigger, maybe costumes for a play or theater. The artist focused on shapes and movement, not details. The paper has a slightly yellow tone, which makes the black ink stand out. Next, check out cross-hatching to see how artists build shadows with lines.