Pierre Bonnard

Pierre Bonnard

Odilon Redon

1900

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

About this work

This sketch shows a side view of a bearded man’s face and head. The hair and beard are drawn in quick, loose strokes, almost like scribbles. The face is simple, with just a few lines for the nose and mouth, and the eyes are barely visible. The artist used a rough, sketchy style—no smooth shading or details. This kind of drawing feels fast, like a quick study rather than a finished portrait. If you like this style, look up lithography to see how it works.

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