Chez George Sauer a Lion Rouge 1858

This graphite sketch, "Chez George Sauer a Lion Rouge," was created in 1858 by James Abbott McNeill Whistler. It portrays a man, likely George Sauer, seated at a table in a tavern. The artist's signature style, characterized by loose, gestural lines and a focus on light and shadow, is evident in this drawing. Whistler's early work was often characterized by realism, capturing the everyday life of his subjects with a keen eye for detail and a touch of whimsy. This sketch, with its informal composition and expressive lines, demonstrates Whistler's early experimentation with artistic techniques that would later define his more famous works.