Portrait Of A Woman 

Alexandre Jacovleff rendered this "Portrait of a Woman" in sanguine pencil. The warm tone of the chalk gives the portrait an immediate sense of intimacy and approachability. Jacovleff uses strong, directional strokes to model the planes of the face. Notice how the lines follow the contours of the nose, cheekbones, and jawline, creating volume through the illusion of light and shadow. The woman's features are simplified, almost geometric, which flattens the face into a series of planes that converge to create the illusion of three dimensions. Her dark, almost helmet-like hair, forms a stark contrast with the softer modelling of the face. This portrait demonstrates how an artist can use minimal means—a single color, simple lines—to construct a compelling representation of the human form. It invites us to consider how portraits can be both a likeness and an exercise in pure form. In the end, it is about a structured organization of lines and values.