Pensive Girl Adrift in a Boat

James Jacques Joseph Tissot

1869

chalk

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Romanticism Late 19th Century

About this work

This sketch shows a woman sitting in a boat, drifting on water. Her posture is relaxed but a little lost, with one arm resting on the side. The lines are loose and quick, like the artist was working fast. Below, there’s a smaller drawing of the same scene, but even rougher. The red chalk gives the whole thing a warm, earthy look. The artist didn’t smooth out the strokes—it feels raw and sketchy, like a first try at an idea. If you like this style, check out Romanticism.