Studieblad, onder andere met een vrouwenkop 1874

George Clausen made this sketch, titled "Studieblad, onder andere met een vrouwenkop" or "Study Sheet, including a woman's head," using graphite. Clausen was an important British artist who gained recognition for his paintings of rural life and landscapes. This sketch offers insight into the artist's working process and demonstrates the ways in which art institutions like academies taught artists to draw the human figure. We can see that the sheet is divided into studies of heads and hands, the most basic and important elements of portraiture. Made during a period of significant social change, when there was increasing interest in realism and capturing the everyday experiences of ordinary people, the drawing reflects the values of the New English Art Club. The institution promoted naturalistic styles and sought to capture the realities of modern life. Looking at this sketch in the context of Clausen's career and the artistic movements of his time, as well as consulting historical sources on art education in the United Kingdom, we can learn more about the artistic and social values that informed his work.