Self-Portrait c. 1895

Here we have a self-portrait by Alphonse Legros made with graphite on paper. The drawing presents a head and shoulders view of the artist, dominated by a dense network of fine lines. These hatch marks create tonal variations that render the play of light and shadow across Legros's face and beard. The composition is strikingly direct, with Legros meeting the viewer's gaze. His eyes, rendered with particular care, serve as the focal point, drawing us into an intimate encounter with the artist. The lines of the drawing coalesce to suggest form and texture. There is a palpable sense of materiality conveyed through the density of strokes around the face, hair, and beard. Legros’s skillful deployment of line and tone serves not merely to represent likeness, but also to probe deeper into the artist's inner self. This portrait encapsulates Legros's concern with the expressive capacity of drawing and its potential to reflect both external appearance and internal character.