Old Man Seated c. 1865

drawing, ink

drawing

self-portrait

charcoal drawing

ink

pencil drawing

portrait drawing

portrait art

"Old Man Seated" is a charcoal drawing by Victor Emile Prouvé created in 1865. The artwork is a study of an elderly man depicted sitting and seemingly lost in thought. The subject is rendered in a loose, expressive style that emphasizes the contours of the figure, while his features are suggested through minimal lines. Prouvé's use of light and shadow creates a sense of depth and volume, giving the man a palpable presence despite the simple composition. This drawing is held by the Minneapolis Institute of Art and is a prime example of Prouvé's talent for capturing the essence of his subjects.

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minneapolisinstituteofart about 1 year ago

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Painter, sculptor, and decorative artist Victor Prouvé is a key figure in the development of Art Nouveau, a movement inspired by the organic forms of nature. Born in the Art Nouveau hotbed of Nancy, he and other artists there helped drive popular taste toward this new style and away from rehashed versions of historical styles. Prouvé’s Old Man Seated belongs to a group of brush drawings in which he applied ink washes with extraordinary quickness and spontaneity. In subject matter this sheet feels like a realist work, but the technique speaks to an interest in the sweeping brushwork of Asian calligraphy.