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Head of a Boy

Edme Bouchardon

1740

chalk

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Baroque 18th Century Portrait

Dominant colour

Head of a Boy is a 1740 chalk by Edme Bouchardon, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Edme Bouchardon
When & what style?: 1740 · Baroque
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This sketch shows a young boy’s face in profile, turned slightly toward us. His hair is drawn in loose, wavy lines, and the chalk strokes are soft but defined, especially around his eyes and lips. The paper has a textured background, and the artist used light shading to suggest the shape of his neck and collar. The red chalk stands out against the pale paper, giving the drawing a warm, earthy tone. Notice how the artist left some areas faint—like the boy’s ear—to keep the focus on his thoughtful expression. Look up Baroque next to see how artists used drama and movement in their work.