Algerian Spahi Mohamed Osman from Oran 

Eugène Burnand created this portrait of Algerian Spahi Mohamed Osman from Oran using pastel on paper, a medium that lends itself to a soft, almost photographic realism. Looking at the image, we see the direct application of pigment allowed Burnand to capture subtle variations in skin tone and the textures of fabric. The soft, powdery quality of pastel gives a sense of immediacy, as if the artist captured the sitter in a fleeting moment. This is enhanced by the way the pastel is layered and blended, creating depth and volume with minimal detail. The choice of pastel also hints at the social context in which the portrait was made. Favored by Impressionist artists, pastel allowed for working outdoors, capturing light and color in a direct, immediate way, with minimal material to bring along. Considering the history of artistic techniques like this, we start to see this artwork in terms of class, labor, and the means of production, rather than solely through the lens of fine art.