Promenade In The Bois
Constantin Guys captures the fleeting elegance of 19th-century Parisian high society in this lively sketch. We see three riders from behind—a dapper gentleman in a tall top hat flanked by two women in elaborate, feathered hats—galloping away into the Bois de Boulogne. Guys, whom the poet Baudelaire famously called the 'painter of modern life,' didn't care about perfect polish; he wanted to catch the energy and movement of the moment. The loose watercolor washes and quick lines make you feel like you're right there on the road with them, watching the dust kick up as they ride off into the hazy distance.
- Technique
- Watercolor and ink