Portrait of an oriental man 

Alfred Dehodencq made this "Portrait of an oriental man" using charcoal and paper. The beauty of charcoal lies in its immediacy, a direct transfer of material from stick to surface. You can almost feel Dehodencq's hand moving across the paper, building up tone and texture to depict the man's face and head covering. The smudging and blending of charcoal create a soft, almost hazy effect, which adds to the portrait's contemplative mood. But let's also consider charcoal itself: essentially burnt wood. It's a humble material, accessible and inexpensive, yet capable of great expressiveness in the right hands. Dehodencq elevates this simple medium, using it to capture the dignity and humanity of his subject. In doing so, he invites us to reconsider our notions of value, both in art and in life. Is the worth of an artwork solely determined by the costliness of its materials, or does its true value lie in the skill and vision of the artist?