Portret van een onbekende dame, mevrouw Rouclare 1891

Auguste Danse made this portrait of an unknown lady, Madame Rouclare, using graphite on paper. The soft, granular nature of graphite allows for subtle gradations of tone, as you can see in the delicate shading of the face and the rendering of light on her dress. The artist created this image by layering thin applications of graphite, a process that demands patience and precision. These techniques have a long and rich history, but by the late 19th century, they were being challenged by photography. Consider the labor involved in creating such a detailed likeness by hand, especially at a time when mechanical reproduction was on the rise. The artwork becomes a testament to the skill and artistry of the draughtsman. Paying attention to materials, techniques, and social context allows us to appreciate the full complexity of this artwork, challenging the established hierarchies between fine art and craft.