Sadness 1887

"Sadness" is a black and white etching by French artist Paul-Albert Besnard, completed in 1887. It features a single figure of a woman in a somber pose, her face hidden and her hand placed to her chin. The etching displays a masterful use of line and tone, creating a sense of melancholy and introspection. The work, currently housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, is a fine example of Besnard’s early artistic exploration of themes of emotion and psychological portraiture.