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Vignette with Woman and Swans

Paul Ranson

1893

ink

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Impressionism Realism Late 19th Century

Dominant colour

Vignette with Woman and Swans is a 1893 ink by Paul Ranson, a Impressionism work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Paul Ranson
When & what style?: 1893 · Impressionism
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This is a small, black-and-white drawing on a beige paper frame. On the left side, there’s a decorative border with swirling lines and tiny figures. The top part shows a woman standing near a group of swans on a river. The words “Pastel,” “Etude pastel,” and “fusain” are handwritten in the center, along with the signature “P. Ranson.” The signature and the style suggest this is a sketch-like drawing. The swans and the woman’s pose look simple but carefully observed, almost like a quick study. This is a lithograph, a printing method that lets artists make multiple copies of their work.