Academy of a man 

Edgar Degas made this nude study with conté crayon on paper, likely in preparation for a larger composition. The grainy texture of the crayon lends a soft, almost hazy quality to the figure. Degas's choice of conté crayon – a mixture of powdered graphite and clay – speaks to the academic tradition in which he trained. It was favored for its ability to render subtle gradations of tone, essential for depicting the human form. However, there's a tension here. The conté crayon, though easily mass-produced, demands skillful handling to avoid a muddy or lifeless effect. Degas clearly had the dexterity needed to bring the figure to life with a wonderful sense of immediacy. We can consider this drawing as an expression of labor: the anonymous labor of producing the materials, and the artist's own labor in mastering them. Ultimately, the value we place on a work like this comes from the transformation of humble materials into something captivating.