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Tooth Extraction

William Tylee Ranney

1850

graphite

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Romanticism Early 19th Century

Dominant colour

Tooth Extraction is a 1850 graphite by William Tylee Ranney, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: William Tylee Ranney
When & what style?: 1850 · Romanticism
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This sketch shows two people in a tense moment. One is sitting, clutching their face while the other leans in, holding a tool. Their clothes are loose and simple, and the whole scene feels rushed and messy. The artist used quick, dark lines to show movement and emotion. The title *Tooth Extraction* hints this is a painful, real-life scene. The loose, sketchy style makes it feel more like a snapshot than a polished drawing. Next, check out the technique: cross-hatching to see how artists build shadows with lines.