1874
chalk
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Study of a Man's Head [recto] is a 1874 chalk by Alphonse Legros, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows a man’s head drawn in quick, loose red chalk lines. The strokes are rough and uneven, focusing on the shape of the hair, nose, and jaw. The paper is light, letting the red stand out clearly. The artist didn’t smooth out the lines—it looks like a fast, rough study. This kind of drawing was often used to practice capturing faces before finishing a bigger work. Check out the technique: sfumato for another way artists blend edges softly.
Alphonse Legros (French pronunciation: ; 8 May 1837 – 8 December 1911) was a French, later British, painter, etcher, sculptor, and medallist.
See the richer artist page
