The artwork, titled “Sketch of a Knee,” was created by Vincent van Gogh in 1886 while he was in Antwerp, Belgium. The piece is executed in chalk on paper and belongs to the Realism movement, specifically within the genre of sketches and studies. It is currently housed in the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
The sketch masterfully captures the intricate contours and musculature of a human knee. Rendered with confident, sweeping lines and deep shadows, the artwork highlights Van Gogh’s keen observational skills and adept manipulation of chalk to convey texture and form. The focus on anatomical precision and detail reflects the artist’s dedication to studying the human body, a common practice among artists of the Realism movement. The concise yet impactful execution underscores his ability to infuse simplicity with a profound sense of realism.
