Artwork
The Hurdy-Gurdy Boy
The Hurdy-Gurdy Boy is an ink print by the Impressionist artist William Morris Hunt. It dates from 1857 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
The Hurdy-Gurdy Boy is a lithograph created by William Morris Hunt in 1857. It is a print on wove paper, featuring a combination of black lithograph and tan stone tint.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a boy seated outdoors, operating a hurdy-gurdy, a stringed instrument turned by a crank. His serious expression and the mundane surroundings, including a bare tree and a building, convey a sense of everyday life.
Technique & Style
The artist achieved a range of textures through a mix of soft shading and sharp lines, evident in the boy's clothing and the tree's bark. The lithographic process involved transferring ink from a smooth stone to paper, allowing for drawn rather than painted effects.
Artist & collection
Artist
William Morris Hunt (March 31, 1824 – September 8, 1879) was an American painter.
