Continental Street Scene
1865
graphite
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1865
graphite
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Dominant colour
Continental Street Scene is a 1865 graphite by John Skinner Prout, a Impressionism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows a quick, loose drawing of a city street corner. A tall, narrow building with arched windows takes up the left side, while a wider, classical-style building sits in the background. The artist used light pencil strokes and ink to suggest movement, with a few scattered figures down below. The drawing feels half-finished, like a snapshot of a moment rather than a polished work. The mix of brown and blue ink gives it a warm, earthy tone. If you like this sketchy style, look up cross-hatching next.
