drawing from Ionides Album

About this work

This sketch shows two women standing close together. One faces forward, her dress simple with a high collar, while the other leans slightly back, her arm resting on the first woman’s shoulder. The lines are loose and quick, almost like a hurried note rather than a finished portrait. The drawing feels half-finished, with light strokes and no background. This style was common in artist sketchbooks, where quick ideas were jotted down before refining them later. Want to see more sketches like this? Check out the Victoria and Albert Museum.