Portrait of a Man 1797 - 1798

This is Charles Balthazar Julien Févret de Saint-Mémin’s “Portrait of a Man,” created with black and white chalk on paper. The composition is stark, dominated by the profile of the man. Notice the strong, unwavering line that defines the contours of his face, from the pronounced brow to the firm set of his jaw. The monochromatic palette directs our focus to the gradations of light and shadow, subtly modeling the man’s features and imbuing the portrait with a sense of depth and volume. The meticulous attention to detail, particularly in the rendering of the hair and the subtle textures of the skin, speaks to the artist’s technical skill. Consider how the very act of portraying someone in profile is not merely a representation but an interpretation, imbued with codes of power, status, and identity. The portrait invites us to consider how representations shape our understanding of the individual.