Head of a Woman

About this artwork

This Head of a Woman by Alphonse Legros dating to 1837–1911 exemplifies the period. Created in red chalk, the work demonstrates technical mastery of materials and processes characteristic of the era. As part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints, this piece contributes to our understanding of historical artistic production. The work's 14 15/16 x 11 1/4 in. (37.9 x 28.5 cm) and material qualities reflect the aesthetic values and technical capabilities of 1837–1911. Such objects ...

Art Historical Context

Alphonse Legros' *Head of a Woman*, sensitive red chalk drawing measuring 14 15/16 x11 1/4 inches (37.9 x 28.5 cm), the intimate focus on a female profile that was a hallmark of 19th draftsmanship. Created during the artist's lifetime (183–1911), this work exemplifies the technical mastery of red chalk, a medium prized for its warm tones and ability to render soft contours and subtle shading. The material's earthy hue lends a lifelike warmth to the subject's features, highlighting Legros' skill in achieving depth and expression through layered strokes. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art...

About the Artist

Alphonse Legros · 1837–1911

Alphonse Legros (1837–1911) was born in Dijon, France, and trained in Paris at the drawing school of Horace Lecoq de Boisbaudran, whose unconventional teaching method — which emphasised memory drawing and acute observation over academic convention — would leave a lasting mark on Legros's practice. At Lecoq's school he formed friendships with Jules Dalou and Auguste Rodin that endured throughout hi...