Robert Lee's Workshop
probably c. 1905
Medium
graphite, pen and black ink and watercolor
Dimensions
overall (approximate): 38.7 x 28.2 cm (15 1/4 x 11 1/8 in.)
Classification
Drawing
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Rosenwald Collection
Accession Number
1943.3.2567
Art Historical Context
David Young Cameron’s “ Lee’s Workshop,” created 1905, captures the quiet atmosphere of a craftsman’s interior through a sensitive combination of graphite, pen and black ink, and watercolor. The modest sheet, roughly 15 ¼ by 11 ⅛ inches, belongs to the Rosenwald Collection at the National Gallery of Art and demonstrates how mixed-media drawing could convey both precise architectural detail and the soft play of light and shadow. The chosen techniques allow Cameron to outline the workshop’s tools, benches, and surfaces with crisp ink lines while using delicate watercolor washes to suggest textu...
About the Artist
David Young Cameron
Sir David Young Cameron (1865-1945) was a Scottish painter and etcher who achieved international recognition primarily for his atmospheric etchings of architectural and landscape subjects. Born in Glasgow during the Victorian era, Cameron became one of Britain's most celebrated printmakers, eventually receiving a knighthood and serving in prominent positions including Trustee of the Tate Gallery a...