1887
graphite
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Dominant colour
From the Rubáiyát is a 1887 graphite by Elihu Vedder, a Impressionism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows a person lying face-down on a surface, arms stretched out. Their head is turned slightly to the side, and the body is relaxed but tense, like they’re sleeping or resting awkwardly. The lines are loose and quick, with shading that makes the figure look three-dimensional. The drawing feels unfinished, almost like a quick study. The artist’s handwriting at the bottom says *"From the Rubáiyát"*—a reference to a famous poem, but here it’s just a body, no face or setting. Look up Vedder, Elihu to see how he used sketches like this in his work.
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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