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The image shows flowing, curved lines and shapes creating an abstract composition. It features a chaotic cluster of human figures resembling cherubs or putti, some of which seem to fly or dance. These figures intersect with handwritten text, blending the appearance of an ink drawing with a handwritten letter. The overall effect is a whimsical, dreamlike scene where the figures appear engaged in playful activities.
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The image shows flowing, curved lines and shapes creating an abstract composition. It features a chaotic cluster of human figures resembling cherubs or putti, some of which seem to fly or dance. These figures intersect with handwritten text, blending the appearance of an ink drawing with a handwritten letter. The overall effect is a whimsical, dreamlike scene where the figures appear engaged in playful activities.

National Gallery of Art · Drawing

A Poem without Words

Henry Mosler

Date
1886
Medium
pen and black ink, wash, and graphite on wove paper
Dimensions
sheet: 10.16 × 16.51 cm (4 × 6 1/2 in.)
Classification
Drawing
Accession number
2015.19.3467
Credit line
Corcoran Collection (Joseph F. McCrindle Collection)
Time span
1876 to 1900
Department
CG-W
Original NGA record Wikidata

Subjects and terms

  • American
  • Putti
  • Poem
  • literature
Provenance

Joseph F. McCrindle, New York; Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington, DC, 2009; acquired 2015 by the National Gallery of Art

Inscription

upper left in black ink: To dear Edith; lower left in black ink: Paris / 17.6.86; lower right in black ink: from her Father / Henry Mosler; upper left edge in graphite by unknown hand: (a poem without words); center verso in graphite by unknown hand: 601; center right verso in graphite by unknown hand: 601

NGA object ID 175345. Collection metadata is reproduced under CC0. This work is included because its NGA published-image record is marked open access; visitors should recheck the source record before substantial reuse.