Homme de profil à gauche, genou gauche à terre 1863

This drawing of a kneeling man was made by Pierre Puvis de Chavannes, using chalk on paper. The choice of chalk as a medium is interesting. Unlike painting with oils or acrylics, where color and texture can be easily manipulated, chalk demands a more direct approach. Here, the artist coaxes out light and shadow from the surface of the paper. You can clearly see the marks of the artist, the build up of the chalk in some areas, and the smudging in others. Consider the pose: the man is on the ground, at eye level with the viewer, pulling at a cloth around his waist. It evokes themes of labor and the working class. The figure seems both monumental and vulnerable. The apparent effort required to produce the drawing and the physicality of the subject are very much connected. This drawing shows us that even with basic materials, an artist can convey powerful social messages. It challenges the idea that fine art must always be polished and refined.