Study for poster -Exposition Universelle-Palais de l’Optique La Grande lunette de 1900-

This charcoal drawing was made by Georges Paul Leroux, around 1900, as a study for a poster advertising the Exposition Universelle in Paris. Charcoal is a humble material, just burnt wood, but in the hands of a skilled artist, it can be used to create striking images like this one. The powdery, soft quality of charcoal allows for a wide range of tonal values, from the deepest blacks to the palest grays. Leroux uses these to great effect, creating a dramatic contrast between light and shadow, and carefully modulating the tones to create a sense of depth and volume. The marks are very subtle, creating soft shadows, and reflecting the gaze of the figure toward her hands. While posters like this one were often mass-produced using mechanical means, the initial design still required the hand of an artist. Looking closely at the work's material and process allows us to recognize the labor and skill that went into its creation, and to question any lingering distinctions between art and craft.