Study of the portrait 

Maurice Quentin de La Tour created this study of a portrait using pastel. The visible strokes build form through color and texture, creating an intimate portrayal. Look at how La Tour uses layering in this study, juxtaposing light and shadow. The subject’s face has soft pink hues contrasted against the blues and browns in the background. This technique gives the piece depth, while the texture from the pastel creates a sense of immediacy. The subject's gaze meets ours directly. La Tour's choice of pastel, a medium known for its softness and blendability, aligns with the Rococo aesthetic of lightness. This echoes the broader philosophical shift towards valuing emotion. It moves away from the formal constraints of the court. Consider the subtle smile. It challenges the conventions of formal portraiture. This study invites viewers to engage personally with the sitter, blurring the lines between public representation and private emotion. Through the formal qualities of color, texture and light, the artist captured the sitter's likeness and evoked empathy.