Old Women
1880
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1880
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This sketch shows a group of people in a dimly lit room. Three women sit near a window with shutters half-open, letting in faint light. One woman stands, another crouches, and a child sits on the floor. The lines are loose and quick, like hurried notes. The artist focused on light and shadow to show the mood of the scene. The dark shapes contrast with the brightest spot—the window—where light spills in. Next, check out Whistler, James McNeill for more sketches like this.
