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Cannon Trailers, France

John Singer Sargent

1918

graphite

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Early Modern

Dominant colour

Cannon Trailers, France is a 1918 graphite by John Singer Sargent, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: John Singer Sargent
When & what style?: 1918
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

You see a big artillery piece on wheels, covered with cloth, in this pencil drawing. It's drawn with precision, showing how the light falls on it. The artist paid close attention to the mechanical details, which is interesting because it shows Sargent's ability to draw complex things. You can look up the technique of chiaroscuro to learn more about how artists use light and shadow.

About the artist

Artist

John Singer Sargent

John Singer Sargent (; January 12, 1856 – April 15, 1925) was an American expatriate artist, considered the "leading portrait painter of his generation" for his evocations of Belle Époque and Edwardian-era luxury.

See the richer artist page