Visage de femme 

Pierre Puvis de Chavannes sketched "Visage de Femme" in graphite and white chalk on paper, a medium that lends itself to capturing fleeting impressions. Made in France, likely during the late 19th century, this work provides insight into the artistic conventions of the time, and the artist’s academic training. As an artist with ties to the French Salon system, Puvis de Chavannes was aware of the role of institutions in shaping artistic taste and legitimizing artists. The simplified form and muted tones could be seen as a move away from the detailed realism of earlier academic art, though there's no sense of outright social critique here. By studying exhibition records, critical reviews, and biographies, we can better understand how this drawing reflects the artistic debates and social values of its time, shedding light on the complex interplay between art and society.