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Five Male Nudes Gesticulating as a Nude Woman Enters a Portal, by Theodore M. von Holst, graphite, 1827

Five Male Nudes Gesticulating as a Nude Woman Enters a Portal

Theodore M. von Holst

1827

graphite

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Dominant colour

Overview

Five Male Nudes Gesticulating as a Nude Woman Enters a Portal is a 1827 graphite by Theodore M. von Holst, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?
Theodore M. von Holst
When & what style?
1827 · Romanticism
Where can I see it?
National Gallery of Art

About this work

This sketch shows a group of five muscular men with arms raised, as if reacting to something. On the left, a long-haired woman in a flowing dress steps forward through a tall, curtain-like opening. The lines are rough and quick, with lots of shading to show movement and muscle. The artist used ink and pencil to create a sense of urgency in the scene. The men’s poses look like they’re shouting or reaching out, while the woman moves calmly into the light. Next, check out the technique: cross-hatching to see how artists build up shading like this.

About the artist

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