Profile Portrait of Charles Meryon 1854

Félix Bracquemond created this drawing, Profile Portrait of Charles Meryon, using graphite, on paper. The portrait appears almost suspended, encased within an ovoid form that is attached by a delicate string at the top to a rectangular frame, creating an image within an image. The artist skillfully employs subtle gradations of tone to model the face, capturing a contemplative and somewhat melancholic expression. Bracquemond’s technique draws attention to the materiality of the image. The pencil lines and shading are not just representational but also call attention to the process of creation. The suspended portrait challenges traditional notions of permanence and stability often associated with portraiture. Instead, it suggests a more transient and fragile existence. The composition invites us to consider the relationship between the artwork and its support, the representation and its frame. This interplay complicates our understanding of what constitutes the ‘real’ image. This drawing becomes an exploration of the artwork as an object and an idea.