Léon Fayet (?)

Redon employs pastel to build gentle contours and subtle shading, while charcoal adds definition to the hair and clothing. The application is delicate, with layered tones that convey depth in the skin and a gradual transition from the dark foreground to the luminous background.

The drawing is catalogued under the tentative title Léon Fayet, though the identification of the sitter remains uncertain. It belongs to Redon’s later period, when he frequently explored portraiture in pastel on prepared papers.

By 1910 Redon had shifted from his earlier symbolist watercolors to a more restrained, realist approach in drawing. This portrait reflects that transition, emphasizing direct observation over allegorical content while retaining his characteristic subtle tonal harmony.