This is a completely stunning watercolor/gouache study by Childe Hassam called “Spectators at the Grand Prix”. Here are a few reasons to enjoy the piece a bit more:
- The arrangement of people in a pyramidal composition, ending with the black hat on top.
- The diagonal orientation of the carriage, pointing from left bottom to right middle, to where the people are looking.
- The beautiful rendering of the woman’s white dress, with just a few values that lie very close together.
- The indication of the crowd raising their hats in the distance.
The reason why I like this drawing too is everything that lies outside the “frame”. I really like to see the presence of the creator, how he is messing around with sparks of color. It seems so honest. This is why I like sketchbooks so much.