Artwork
Drawing for Star of Fortune
Drawing for Star of Fortune is a chalk drawing by the Impressionist artist Elihu Vedder. It dates from 1892 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
The use of these mediums creates a sense of texture and depth, drawing the viewer's eye to the subject's curves and contours.
This drawing, titled "Drawing for Star of Fortune," presents a nude figure in a circular frame. The subject is depicted in a seated position, with their head turned to the side and their hair flowing behind them. They are surrounded by leaves and other foliage, with the year "1892" inscribed on the left side of the circle.
The drawing is rendered in crayon and black chalk on brown paper, giving it a warm, earthy tone. The use of these mediums creates a sense of texture and depth, drawing the viewer's eye to the subject's curves and contours.
The artist's use of chiaroscuro, a technique that uses strong contrasts between light and dark to create a sense of volume and depth, adds to the overall impact of the drawing. For more on this technique, explore the works of artists who have mastered chiaroscuro.
Overview
Drawing for Star of Fortune is a 1892 work by Elihu Vedder, an American symbolist painter and illustrator, created with crayon and black chalk on brown paper.
Subject & Meaning
The drawing depicts a seated nude figure within a circular frame, surrounded by foliage. The figure's pose and the surrounding elements suggest an allegorical or symbolic representation, consistent with Vedder's symbolist style and his experience illustrating literary works like Edward FitzGerald's The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam.
Technique & Style
The use of crayon and black chalk on brown paper gives the drawing a warm, earthy tone and textured appearance. Strong contrasts between light and dark create a sense of volume and depth, characteristic of the chiaroscuro technique.
Artist & collection
Artist
Elihu Vedder (26 February 1836 – 29 January 1923) was an American symbolist painter, book illustrator and poet from New York City.
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