Etude pour un visage d’homme barbu 

Henri Leopold Lévy made this study of a bearded man's face with oil and pastel on paper. The artist built up the image using layers of blended oil paint and pastel chalk, which gives it a distinctive texture. You can see the marks left by the artist’s hand. Pastels are interesting because they’re almost pure pigment – the same stuff that gives paint its color. Because they aren’t mixed with much liquid, pastels have a unique, soft appearance. They almost seem to glow. This allowed Lévy to create depth and volume in the face, particularly around the beard and hair. The way Lévy handled these materials is also telling. Instead of carefully blending the colors, he left visible strokes, capturing a sense of immediacy. This was a departure from the highly polished academic style. It allowed the artist to imbue the sketch with a feeling of honesty and humanity. So next time you see a pastel drawing, remember that it’s not just about the subject, but the artist’s hand and the way they chose to work with their materials.