Sketch Sheet of Illustrations
Medium
Graphite
Dimensions
Sheet: 13 5/8 × 11 3/4 in. (34.6 × 29.8 cm)
Classification
Drawings
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Roberta J.M. Olson and Alexander B.V. Johnson, 2018
Accession Number
2018.904.2
Art Historical Context
Thomas Vilhelm Petersen’s *Sketch Sheet of Illustrations*1853) offers a captivating glimpse into the creative process of this Danish artist during the mid-19th century. Rendered in graphite on a modest sheet measuring 13 5/8 × 11 3/4 inches, the work exemplifies the preparatory sketches common among illustrators of the Danish Golden Age. Petersen (1819–1893), known for his detailed genre scenes and contributions to fairy-tale illustrations, including collaborations with Hans Christian Andersen, used such sheets to explore ideas rapidly and economically. Graphite’s versatility shines here, all...