Artwork

Bust of a Young Girl

Bust of a Young Girl, by Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux, ink, 1860
Bust of a Young Girl, by Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux, ink, 1860

Bust of a Young Girl is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux. It dates from 1860 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Bust of a Young Girl is an etching on Japan paper by Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux, dated to 1860. It is part of the National Gallery of Art's collection in Washington.

Subject & Meaning

The etching depicts a young girl with her face and shoulders turned away, her features rendered in a calm yet serious expression. Her hair is suggested by wavy lines, while the surrounding paper has acquired a warm tone over time.

Technique & Style

Carpeaux employed fine, precise lines to capture the girl's features, particularly her hair and collar, using the etching technique, which involves scratching a metal plate to create the design.

Artist & collection

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: National Gallery of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.