# An Infant Asleep in His Crib

**Adolph Menzel** (German, 1815–1905)  
1848  
pastel on brown wove paper  
sheet: 13.9 x 21.8 cm (5 1/2 x 8 9/16 in.)

Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington, 2007.111.20. [The museum's record](https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.139131.html).

## About this work

Adolph Menzel drew this in 1848, aged 33. It is now at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC.

### What you’re looking at

The image shows a person lying down, positioned on their side, resting on a pillow. The individual appears to be asleep, with closed eyes, slightly parted lips, and a relaxed facial expression. The person has light-colored hair, partially covered by a white nightcap, and is dressed in white nightwear with a ruffled collar. They are covered by a white blanket and their hand is partially visible near the face, with fingers interlaced. The background features a wooden headboard or furniture piece.

_Description from the National Gallery of Art._

### How it was made

- **Pastel.** Sticks of almost pure pigment with very little binder. The colour sits on the paper as powder: bright, matte and fragile.

### [Adolph Menzel](https://www.ochreeditions.com/artists/adolph-menzel)

German, 1815–1905

## Facts

- Type: Drawing
- The artist was 33
- Real size: about 5½ × 8½ in (14 × 22 cm). The original is small: even the 8 × 10 in print shows it larger than life.
- Century: 19th century
- Subjects: Baby, Hat, Bed, Infant
- Colour: brown
- Rights: public domain (CC0 1.0); free to use for any purpose.

## Get it

- Free download, full resolution: https://img.ochreeditions.com/m/1670.jpg?dl=1
- Image: https://img.ochreeditions.com/a/1670/1920.jpg
- Giclée reproduction on Hahnemühle Photo Rag: 8 × 10 in $28; 11 × 14 in $38; 12 × 16 in $42; 16 × 20 in $56; 18 × 24 in $68; 20 × 30 in $86
- Framed reproduction: 8 × 10 in $78; 11 × 14 in $98; 12 × 16 in $108; 16 × 20 in $138; 18 × 24 in $164; 20 × 30 in $208
- Canvas reproduction: 8 × 10 in $58; 11 × 14 in $72; 12 × 16 in $79; 16 × 20 in $98; 18 × 24 in $118
- Print-ready file: 8 × 10 in $2; 11 × 14 in $2; 12 × 16 in $3; 16 × 20 in $3; 18 × 24 in $3; 20 × 30 in $5

Sizes stop where the museum's file would print below 150 pixels per inch. Everything sold is a reproduction, made to order. [Order a print](https://www.ochreeditions.com/art/an-infant-asleep-in-his-crib-nga-139131).