Ling Chan analyses van Rijn " A Girl Sleeping "1655

1) INTRODUCE THE DRAWING IN GENERAL TERMS 

•What is the title of the drawing?
A Girl Sleeping

•What is the name of the artist?
Rembrandt van Rijn

•What is the year the drawing was done?

1655

•What is the medium? (ie the materials used to produce the picture, for example charcoal on paper, pen and ink etc) 
Black ink with dry brush on rough paper

•What is the subject matter or general theme of the work? (eg is it a figure drawing, a map, a portrait, an autobiographical work, a picture about nature, a drawing of the city etc?) 
figure drawing

•Does the drawing have a particular purpose? eg Is it a diagram that explains how something works? Does it record accurately record the appearance of something? Does it express the artist's emotion or memory? 
It is a skill practical drawing which shown different style of line, including different thickness and curve sharp. It recorded the body gesture of a sleeping girl in minimum lines. All lines have its roles on showing the posture and texture of cloths. This few lines show the lonely feeling with strong brush stroke. It expresses the whole silent atmosphere of the sleeping environment of this girl without drawing the whole background details but the tone and simple line near the girl.


2) DESCRIBE THE DRAWING IN DETAIL

•How is line used? What does it do/express? 
Line is the most important element in this drawing. Artist used few lines to depict the main character in front ground and clearly show the girl gesture. The thickness and curvedness of line shown light and dark area without any shading on the body. Audience can easily understand the posture of the sleeping girl although there are only simply lines. The brush stroke also play a vital role to express the feeling in the simply drawing. Audience can feel its speed and force clearly.

•How is tone used? What does it do/express? 
The tone only used in the background of the drawing. It did not show the detail of anything but express the lonely feeling. It seems to show the deepness and darkness of the background but also look like a wall behind the girl. Audience only saw the girl mainly and get the lonely feeling.

•What can you say about shape and/or form in this picture? What is the effect? 
The body shape is three dimensional which shown by the thickness of lines. The form of body is clear that we can feel the body shape under the cloths. The gesture is easily understand due to the dark and light representation.

•Is texture a feature of the drawing? 
The rough paper with dry brush stroke shown strong feeling of lonely and the speed of drawing line.

•What can you say about the composition of the drawing? What is the effect of this type of composition on the overall drawing?

The whole drawing is tilt to left. There are no vertical line.


•Is rhythm important in this picture? If so, say more about it...
The line rhythm on cloths show the soft texture which create a harmony feeling.

•Is the picture balanced? Explain...
It is not exactly balance because the main character tilt to left side. In addition, the darker area main show on left side which make a higher visual weight on left.

•Is perspective used in the picture? If so, describe the way that the illusion of three-dimensional space has been created.
There is no background which create 3D space.

•Is the picture harmonious? If so, in what way? 

The main character with silent environment created by the simply line. Everything is claim and still. The brushstroke is soft and curvy. Moreover, the line rhythm on cloths show the soft texture which create a harmony feeling. 


•Are there any strong contrasts in the picture? Say more... 
There are very dark and light area shown by thin line and thick line. The thickness of lines are the main element of this drawing. It can figure out how strong did the artist drawing the line or how soft did the artist want to show.

3) INTERPRETATION AND EVALUATION

•What is the mood of the drawing? Justify your answer using information from your responses above.
I found that it is lonely but harmonious in this drawing. The simply line create a silent atmosphere which is lonely without any background supported. Everything is claim and still. In addition, the use of curve line show a soft feeling which is relax and harmonious. The line rhythm on cloths like line pattern which show the soft texture which create a harmony feeling.

•What does the drawing express? Justify your answer using information from your responses above.
From my points of view, this is a practical drawing which did not have a strong emotion to present. But it still have some atmosphere created and connect to audience, such as relax and silent. Because of the simple position and line presentation, this drawing is easily understand and feeling it. Audience can easily understand the posture of the sleeping. By different thickness and darkness, we can know where the light source is.

•In your opinion, why is this work interesting/moving/ clever/ imaginative/thought-provoking/......?  Choose the adjective(s) that best fit(s) the work, and then justify your conclusions by referring to specific features and qualities of the drawing (including those you have discussed above).

I am interesting in those simple line. Artist can show the whole gesture clearly by simply line. It is such a simple drawing but it is complex in some aspects. There are only one main character without details. Artist did not show the facial appearance but only depict the body gesture. Audience can focus on the sleeping gesture and feel the silent atmosphere. It is harmonious because everything is claim and still. Furthermore, the brushstroke is soft and curvy. It also creates harmonious drawing.