Tesson humain (Human Fragment)

Tesson humain (Human Fragment)

Félicien Rops

1895

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

About this work

This small print shows a close-up of a person’s head and shoulders. The face is turned slightly away, with a hat pulled low over the forehead. The lines are rough and the colors are mostly brown and orange, giving it a sketchy, unfinished look. The artist used a technique that lets ink sit on top of the plate, creating a soft, smudged effect. This makes the image feel more like a quick sketch than a polished drawing. Next, check out etching to see how this printing method works.

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