Albert Besnard and His Model

Anders Zorn

National Gallery of Art

The image depicts a man wearing a hat with broad textured lines. He is shown from the shoulders up, with his head turned slightly away to reveal a side profile with a prominent beard. His face and hair are obscured by dense hatch marks. In the background, a woman with long curly hair is sitting, looking slightly to her side. She wears a garment with bunched up sleeves and is seated on or near a draped piece of furniture, possibly a couch. She appears to be holding or resting her forearms near a book or pages on her lap. Behind her, a curtain with vertical lines and indistinct patterns is visible, along with a framed artwork on the wall. The setting suggests an indoor space with walls and a ceiling line. The sketch conveys an intimate, indoor scene in a loose, expressive style.