This is such a masterful work that I can't help but feel it must be the handiwork of a celebrated artist. But I have no proof of that. It's just the composition is so well-executed! All those curves and flowing rhythms of line that move the eye around. It's like the eye is on a roller coaster. No signature that I can find. It's on a thick cardboard or composition board. I have separated the matte to show you the full composition (see last photo). The figures are done in an almost glyphic manner. I was thinking maybe that distinctive feature would help to pinpoint the artist. Artificial intelligence has suggested the Australian artist Lloyd Rees more than once and I get why it might suggest that, considering the way he has created landscapes with similar lovely curves and eye rhythms. And he created a number of similar charcoal landscapes. I would think the nature of that composition board, perhaps an identification of the trees and then those outfits (as much as one can make them out) might help to pinpoint a period at least. I'm thinking it might be early 20th century since there appears to be a little more flesh exposed on bodies than one would expect to see before the turn of the century when on outings in the forest. The women seem to be having a picnic all to themselves in the central part of the composition. There are solitary adult figures too and then the children have taken to the creek to bathe and play. AI also suggested the Barbizon School and their treatment of forest scenes. But doesn't this feel more early 20th century to you? I think it's a truly sublime drawing and it feels as though this was an artist who was going to have a name. Perhaps they died young or perhaps this is the work of a celebrated artist. It just does not feel like your ordinary student drawing at all. There's so much confidence and imagination and joy in the process here. This measures 17.5 in X 13.5 in (exposed window) and the composition board itself measures 15 in x 18 in. If anyone knows the artist and would like to enlighten me, I would love to know! Note that the last two photos show the work in the frame in which I originally found it. I have since disposed of that frame elsewhere. So you are purchasing only the matted drawing that you see here, not the frame. But I just wanted to give you some more context. (The frame had some serious losses to it.)