Study for 'The Scarlet Letter' (1981)

Dated 1981, "Study for 'The Scarlet Letter'" is an artwork by Edwin Austin Abbey. It is listed in the Drawings collection. The image is in landscape orientation. Drawings, a short history: Artists have long used drawings to plan paintings, sculptures, and buildings, so a sketch can show how an idea developed. Drawings range from quick preparatory sketches to finished works in pen, chalk, charcoal, graphite, or wash. Historical background, 1981: The range of materials widened to include acrylic paint, screen printing, and mixed media. Photography, film, and print culture became part of the language of art, and artists across the world developed their own responses to modernism.

Everything for "Study for 'The Scarlet Letter'" arrives digitally: Digital JPEG + PDF files, 300 DPI. Once payment is confirmed, an email brings the download link, and from there you decide how to print it, whether at home, at a print shop, or through an online service. A landscape format suits wide, low wall spaces such as the stretch above a bed, mantel, or sideboard. Matching the frame to the image proportions avoids cropping. Hang the print away from direct sunlight, which over the years can fade any printed colour. Choosing a standard frame size and printing to fit it often saves the cost of custom framing. Screens and printers render colour differently, so a small test print is a sensible way to check tones before committing to a large size.

American, 1852–1911

If you like the visual language of Edwin Austin Abbey, explore more works by the same artist in our collection.