A Drawing Lesson
1 of 3
Object Label
Constantine Hertzberg rendered this detailed scene with remarkably fine and precise ink lines. In addition to demonstrating his masterful draftsmanship, the drawing reflects changes related to artistic training and gender in the latter half of the nineteenth century. This period witnessed the rise of the professional female artist, for whom drawing was a key component of artistic training rather than merely a genteel amateur accomplishment. At the time he made this work, Hertzberg was a drawing instructor at the Cooper Union School of Design for Women in New York, so the subject of his image could be autobiographical.
Caption
Constantine Hertzberg American, born Germany, 1833–1919. A Drawing Lesson, 1865. Black ink on thick, cream, smooth wove paper, Sheet: 10 9/16 x 6 3/4 in. (26.8 x 17.1 cm) Image: 8 x 5 15/16 in. (20.3 x 15.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Mrs. Tom Cochran, 19.186. No known copyright restrictions (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 19.186_PS4.jpg)
Gallery
Not on view
Collection
Gallery
Not on view
Collection
Artist
Title
A Drawing Lesson
Date
1865
Medium
Black ink on thick, cream, smooth wove paper
Classification
Dimensions
Sheet: 10 9/16 x 6 3/4 in. (26.8 x 17.1 cm) Image: 8 x 5 15/16 in. (20.3 x 15.1 cm)
Signatures
Unsigned
Inscriptions
On recto: inscribed lower right in pen, "13266"; and lower center in graphite, "from Mrs. Tom Cochran / 301 Clermont Rd. / Brooklyn" On verso, inscribed in center in ink, "Composed and Drawn with the Pen. by Constantine Hertzberg. / Prof of Drawing and Perspective in the Brooklyn Polytechnique Institute and in / the Cooper Union. / August 1865."; and below in graphite, "see Karolik Coll. Vol. 1, p 186" and "D8209"
Credit Line
Gift of Mrs. Tom Cochran
Accession Number
19.186
Rights
No known copyright restrictions
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