Victor-Auguste de Saint-Rémy c. 1850

Théodore Chassériau sketched Victor-Auguste de Saint-Rémy using graphite. The drawing presents a study in contrasts, as light pencil strokes form the sitter's figure against the darker, blank canvas. The subject’s formal attire is rendered through structured lines, while his face is more softly shaded, creating an intriguing tension between the outer display and inner character. The overall composition, with the sitter's gaze directed off-center, introduces a dynamic asymmetry. Chassériau, deeply influenced by Ingres, infuses classical portraiture with Romantic expressiveness. The visible sketch lines and unfinished quality draw attention to the creative process, challenging traditional notions of artistic perfection. It invites us to consider how even seemingly simple forms can convey complex ideas about identity and representation.