Artwork
Partial Sketch of a Boy in Knickers

Partial Sketch of a Boy in Knickers is a graphite drawing by the Romanticist artist American 19th Century. It dates from 1873 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. This drawing is a graphite sketch on wove paper, depicting a boy in casual attire.
About this work
Overview
This drawing is a graphite sketch on wove paper, depicting a boy in casual attire. The work is characterized by loose, expressive lines and an unfinished quality.
Subject & Meaning
The sketch shows a boy standing in profile, wearing loose-fitting pants and a shirt, with his arms relaxed by his sides. The artist's focus appears to be on capturing the subject's pose and form.
Technique & Style
The drawing features quick, rough graphite lines, with darker shading on areas that would be highlighted by light. The style is suggestive of a preliminary study or practice piece, rather than a finished work.
Context
The loose, expressive style of this drawing is associated with artistic practices that prioritize capturing movement and form. Such sketches were often used as preparatory studies for more finished paintings.
Artist & collection
Artist
This artist painted everyday American life in the 1800s. Look at *Farmhouse in Mahantango Valley*—a quiet, sunlit scene of rural Pennsylvania. *Boy and Girl* shows two children standing close, their faces turned toward…








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