Head of a Man with Upturned Eyes 

Alphonse Legros created this intimate head study of an unknown man with oil on canvas. Legros was working during a period of significant social upheaval in France. The rapid industrialization of France was changing the landscape, and class tensions were intensifying as the working class dealt with harsh conditions. Legros's art often reflects these social realities. He was concerned with the plight of the working class, and this concern seems to resonate in his portraiture. Here, the upward gaze of the subject is striking; it's not confrontational, but it does seem to challenge the viewer. Is it a gaze of hope, or of despair? The muted tones of the painting add to the somber mood, evoking a sense of quiet contemplation. The identity of the sitter remains a mystery, but his gaze invites us to consider broader questions about human existence and the search for meaning amidst the complexities of life.