Walter Sickert

About this work

This sketch shows a seated person in profile, their head turned slightly toward us. The lines are loose and quick, like hurried strokes—some areas are dark and solid, while others fade into soft shadows. The person’s hair is drawn in rough, sweeping marks, and their clothing looks like quick, overlapping strokes rather than smooth shapes. The sketch feels unfinished, almost like a quick study rather than a polished work. That’s because it’s a lithograph, a printmaking method where the artist draws directly onto a stone or metal plate. Next, look up lithography to see how this technique works.