Head of a Boy c. 1740

Edme Bouchardon made this drawing, Head of a Boy, with red chalk, a medium prized for its earthy, direct qualities. Look closely, and you'll see the way the chalk lends itself to modeling the soft, subtle contours of the boy's face. The artist coaxes out the light and shadow, creating a delicate play on the page, almost like he's sculpting with the chalk itself. The hatching lines, all carefully laid, build up the form and give the whole drawing a warm, tactile feel. What's remarkable is how Bouchardon takes a humble material like chalk and elevates it to this level of detail and refinement. This wasn't just casual sketching; it was a deliberate process, showcasing the potential of drawing as a medium in its own right. It demonstrates how close observation and skilled technique can transform a simple piece of chalk into a compelling work of art, blurring the lines between craft and fine art.