A Young Girl Looking Upward c. 1778

Jean-Baptiste Greuze rendered this drawing of a young girl with red chalk, a medium prized for its soft, velvety texture. In Greuze’s time, this was not just a preliminary step for painting, but an independent art form. Red chalk is made from iron oxide-rich clay, and its earthy pigment lends warmth to the girl's features. Notice the subtle gradations in tone, achieved through layering and blending, and the dynamic hatching. The artist’s hand is evident in every stroke, revealing the directness and intimacy of the drawing process. Drawings like this offered direct access to the artist’s sensibility and skill. In a society increasingly defined by industrial production, valuing unique works like these served an important purpose, emphasizing artistic knowledge and skill. By celebrating such pieces, we recognize the artist’s labor, and the value of handcraft in a world of mass production.