← Alfred Sisley

Three Sketches-Two Geese Walking; Peasant Woman with a Cow; Goose Hiding its Head

Original title: Three Sketches-Two Geese Walking; Peasant Woman with a Cow; Goose Hiding its Head

Artist

Alfred Sisley

Date

1895–97

Medium

Three separate sheets of varying sizes, with the same mediums and supports: graphite and colored crayon on buff wove paper, darkened

Dimensions

2 3/4 x 5 1/8 in. (7 x 13 cm); 2 7/16 x 2 3/16 in. (6.2 x 5.5 cm); 2 3/8 x 2 3/4 in. (6 x 7 cm)

Credit line

Robert Lehman Collection, 1975

kurzbeschreibung

Between 1895 and 1897, Alfred Sisley produced three separate drawings and mounted them together on a single support. Executed in graphite and colored crayon on darkened buff wove paper, they present animals and a peasant woman—rural subjects the Impressionist returned to often.

Description

On the left, an animal stands with its head turned to the left. In the middle, a peasant woman leads an ox. To the right, two geese graze side by side in a meadow. The three sheets are hung in a row, with the central one placed slightly higher. Pastel and gray tones dominate the palette, and the light appears even throughout.

Context

Sisley made these sketches in the final years of his life, when he turned increasingly to landscape and animal subjects. They likely served as studies for larger paintings. At the time, the artist was living in Moret-sur-Loing, a rural area that provided him with inspiration.

Impact

The loose handling of line and the restrained colors give the sheets a spontaneous, intimate mood. Graphite and crayon create a soft, pastel-like texture that makes the scenes appear calm and close to nature.

Technique

Graphite and colored crayons on darkened buff wove paper—these are the materials of the drawings. The crayons allow for subtle gradations of color, while the graphite provides clear contours. The combination of media leaves the surface with a slight texture.

AI-generated description text

Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)