Artwork

Centaur Woman

Centaur Woman, by Alphonse Legros, ink, 1874
Centaur Woman, by Alphonse Legros, ink, 1874

Centaur Woman is an ink drawing by the Romanticist artist Alphonse Legros. It dates from 1874 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Centaur Woman is a 1874 drawing by Alphonse Legros, a French-born artist who later became a British citizen. Created with pen and brown ink over graphite on wove paper, it exemplifies Legros's skill across various mediums.

Subject & Meaning

The drawing depicts a centaur, a mythological creature with the upper body of a woman and the lower body of a horse, resting in a forest setting. The serene scene suggests a contemplative atmosphere, inviting the viewer to reflect on the hybrid figure's significance.

Technique & Style

Legros employed cross-hatching, a technique involving closely spaced parallel lines, to achieve a range of tonal values and textures. This approach lends the drawing a soft, sketch-like quality, underscoring the artist's ability to convey depth and nuance through subtle mark-making.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Alphonse Legros

Artist

Alphonse Legros

Alphonse Legros (French pronunciation: ; 8 May 1837 – 8 December 1911) was a French, later British, painter, etcher, sculptor, and medallist.

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