Pencil Sketch Portrait of a Mother and Child

This item is an original figurative pencil drawing on light-colored paper, depicting a sentimental scene of a mother holding her young child aloft. The artwork is rendered in graphite with a focus on realism, particularly in the shading and muscular definition of the mother's back and arms. The woman is shown wearing a long, patterned skirt with a dark hem, while the child appears in a simple dress or romper. The technique utilizes varying degrees of pencil hardness to create depth, from the cross-hatched patterns on the clothing to the smooth tonal gradients of the skin. The paper exhibits significant signs of age and wear; there are several visible brown foxing spots and stains scattered across the surface, particularly on the left side and center-right. The edges of the paper show slight creasing and curling, suggesting it has been handled without a frame for some time. There are no clearly visible artist signatures or dates on the front of the work. Based on the contemporary hairstyles and clothing style, the piece likely dates from the late 20th to early 21st century. The craftsmanship is skilled, demonstrating a strong grasp of human anatomy and textile movement.