Portrait Of Elisabeth Van Biema 

Paul César Helleu captured Elisabeth Van Biema in this drawing using conté crayon and graphite. Helleu's choice of materials – the humble crayon and graphite – elevates draftsmanship. It shows a sketch-like quality, yet it’s far from unfinished. The layering of strokes imbues the paper with texture, creating a palpable sense of depth. The hatching and cross-hatching, applied with precision, speak to Helleu's academic training. We can imagine him at the easel, turning a mass-produced crayon into a tool for capturing the likeness of his sitter. The contrast between the relative ease of mark-making and the detailed final image raises interesting questions about value, labor, and the market for luxury goods in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Helleu blurs these lines, demonstrating that the true value of a work of art lies not just in the materials, but in the skill and artistry applied to them.