Head of a Man (Tete d'homme) 

Alphonse Legros made this drawing, Head of a Man, using ink on paper. Look closely, and you’ll see how the simple act of applying ink lines can create form and volume. The density and direction of these lines skillfully capture the contours of the face, the texture of the hair and beard, and the fall of light. Legros, deeply engaged with the social realities of his time, elevated printmaking and drawing as viable art forms, in contrast to painting, traditionally seen as 'high art'. As we consider this drawing, we might think about the artist's positionality, as someone deeply connected to the working class and the production of images for a broad public. The drawing’s simplicity, born from the artist's skill, reflects Legros' commitment to making art accessible. This work serves as a reminder that art’s value lies not only in its subject, but in the artist's ability to transform simple materials into powerful expressions.