Study of Two Women, One Seated and One Holding a Basket 1879

This is Léon Augustin Lhermitte’s pencil drawing, "Study of Two Women, One Seated and One Holding a Basket", on blue-grey paper. The figures are rendered in delicate strokes. The standing woman on the left carries a basket, her form defined by long, vertical lines suggesting the folds of her dress, while the seated woman’s contemplative pose is captured through softer, more rounded contours. Lhermitte’s choice of medium and the visible, gestural lines contribute to the sketch-like quality, which is less about perfect representation and more about capturing the essence of form and posture. The composition, with its subtle tonal variations, directs our attention to the structure and spatial arrangement of the figures, prompting us to consider how the artist uses line and form to convey a sense of volume. Notice how the verticality of the lines in the women’s clothing contrasts with the gentle curve of the basket. This contrast, present within the aesthetic structure of the piece, invites ongoing interpretation of the composition.