Importunate (Importune)

Albert Besnard

National Gallery of Art

This is a drawing of a dimly lit room with a sickbed, a cloaked figure, and a skeleton. The scene is shrouded in darkness, creating a somber, eerie ambiance. In the left portion of the image, a bed is visible with glimpses of white sheets, and upon it lies a figure under the covers, with an exposed head resting on the pillow and eyes seemingly closed. To the right of this figure stands another shadowy figure in a flowing cloak, slightly bending towards the bed. Dominating the right of the room stands a skeleton, its bony frame illuminated by a faint light source that draws attention to its form. A table adjacent to the bed holds bottles and a glass.