Groupe composé de deux femmes et d’un enfant 1878 - 1882

This preliminary charcoal sketch, titled "Groupe composé de deux femmes et d’un enfant" (Group Composed of Two Women and a Child), is a preparatory drawing for a larger painting by French symbolist artist Pierre Puvis de Chavannes, created between 1878 and 1882. The artist is known for his use of classical themes and a restrained, muted palette, evident even in this preliminary drawing, depicting three figures in a classical pose. The grid lines suggest a meticulous approach to composition, typical of Puvis's style.