Unfinished Sketch of Lady Haden

Unfinished Sketch of Lady Haden

James McNeill Whistler

1895

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

About this work

This sketch shows a woman in a loose, flowing dress, her hair pulled back. The lines are quick and rough, like the artist was working fast. Her face is mostly blurred, but you can still make out her features—just barely. The sketch feels half-finished, with lots of empty space and light strokes. The paper looks textured, and the black lines stand out against the pale background. If you like this style, check out lithography to see how artists create prints like this.

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