The Lost Receipt

David, Sir Wilkie

1817

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Romanticism Early 19th Century

About this work

This drawing shows four people in a dim room. One man leans over a table, checking papers. Another stands nearby, holding a hat and a bag. A woman sits at the table, looking down. A dog lies on the floor, and a candle flickers in the corner. The artist used fine lines to show light and shadow, making the scene feel real. The rough edges and textures give it a sketchy, almost hurried look. Next, check out drypoint on chine collé to see how this technique works.