Portrait Study: Miss Charlotte R. Williams

James McNeill Whistler

1892

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Impressionism Realism Late 19th Century Portrait

About this work

This sketch shows a woman standing straight, wearing a long dress and a fancy hat with a feather. Her coat has thick sleeves, and she holds her hands together in front. The lines are loose and quick, like someone doodling fast. The drawing looks simple but catches her pose well. It’s made using a technique where the artist draws directly onto a smooth stone, then presses paper onto it. Next, check out lithography to see how this sketch was made.