Description
At first glance, this drawing seems unremarkable in its choice of subject. A man crosses a bridge on a winter day, with humble structures and trees behind him. But the artist described the scene with such a broad range of colors, further elaborated with white chalk, that he imparted a sense of magic to the routines of daily life.
Provenance
William Pitcairn Knowles (1820–1894), Rotterdam and Wiesbaden [stamp (Lugt 2643) verso, lower left, in purple]; sold, Frederik Muller & Co., Amsterdam, June 25, 1895, lot 732. Private collection; sold, Sotheby’s (Kunstveilingen Maak van Waay B.V.), Amsterdam, June 10, 1975, lot 114, to British Rail Pension Fund; sold, Sotheby's, London, Jan. 8, 1991, lot 121, to David and Celia Hilliard, Chicago; given to the Art Institute of Chicago, Dec., 2007.
Accession Number
192875
Medium
Black chalk, over translucent and opaque watercolors, with touches of white chalk (recto) and pen and brown ink ledger (verso) on off-white laid paper, incised for transfer
Dimensions
19.7 × 15.8 cm (7 13/16 × 6 1/4 in.)
Classification
charcoal
Credit Line
Gift of Celia and David Hilliard