Study of a Man's Head with a Full Beard 

Alphonse Legros made this study of a man’s head with graphite and red chalk. It's an arresting image that reflects the academic tradition of the 19th century. The image's meaning comes from the combination of skilled draftsmanship and the careful depiction of an individual, whose features suggest a life of experience. Legros was French but spent much of his career in Britain, teaching at the Slade School of Fine Art. Institutions such as the Slade were central to defining what art was and who got to make it. Legros's work often reflects a concern with social realism, depicting ordinary people and scenes of everyday life. To fully understand this drawing, we might delve into the curriculum of the Slade School, exploring the social and artistic networks that supported artists like Legros. Art history is not just about aesthetics; it's about understanding the social and institutional contexts that shape artistic production.