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Study for an Archway

Charles Sprague Pearce

1894

ink

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Impressionism Realism Late 19th Century

Dominant colour

Study for an Archway is a 1894 ink by Charles Sprague Pearce, a Impressionism work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Charles Sprague Pearce
When & what style?: 1894 · Impressionism
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This sketch shows a simple archway with a person walking through it. The person is dressed in a long coat and hat, carrying what looks like a bag. Outside the arch, there are trees, a fence, and a few small buildings in the distance. The artist used quick, sketchy lines to show light and shadow. The trees and fence are drawn with tight, repeated lines to create texture. Next, look up cross-hatching to see how artists build up shading like this.