Study for 'Types de races algériennes'

Art Historical Context

This graphite study by Henriélix-Emmanuel Philippoteaux, created between 1830 and 6, served as preparation for the larger work *Types de races algériennes*. Rendered on wove paper measuring roughly 10 by 13 inches, the drawing captures male figures with the precise linework and subtle that graphite allows, reflecting artist’s careful observation of facial features and expressions. The title points to an interest in documenting the diverse peoples of Algeria during the early decades of French colonial presence in North Africa. As a preparatory drawing, it offers insight into Philippoteaux’s working process, showing how he gathered visual material before translating it into finished paintings or prints intended for a European audience. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Department of Drawings and Prints, the sheet exemplifies the 19th-century practice of using on-site sketches to record cultural encounters. Its presence in the collection highlights the role such studies played in shaping visual narratives of distant lands for museum visitors today.