Alphonse Daudet
1893
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
1893
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
This painting shows a close-up of an older man’s face and shoulders. His skin is smooth but pale, with soft shadows under his eyes and along his jaw. A thick white beard frames his face, and his hair is wispy and gray. The background is plain and dark, so the face stands out clearly. The artist used very subtle shading to make the skin look almost glowing. This style focuses on light and dark tones rather than bright colors. Look up chiaroscuro next to see how this technique works.
