Hubert Robert
1787
chalk
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1787
chalk
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This drawing shows an older man with gray hair and a serious face. He wears a dark coat over a white cravat, and his right hand holds a rolled-up paper tied with a ribbon. The background is plain and dark, focusing all attention on him. The artist used soft black chalk and white gouache to create smooth, almost glowing skin and fabric. The paper was wrapped around a wooden block, a common method at the time. Next, look up gouache to see how artists use this mix of paint and chalk.
