Bust of Woman with Turban n.d.

François Le Moyne rendered this drawing, Bust of Woman with Turban, with red chalk on paper. The rough, granular nature of chalk imbues this portrait with a soft, almost dreamlike quality. Notice how Le Moyne uses subtle gradations of pressure to model the woman's face and drapery, creating depth and volume with a seemingly simple medium. While chalk may seem like an everyday material, its skillful manipulation elevates it to a tool of great expressive power. In the 18th century, drawings like this were not only studies for larger paintings, but also valued as independent works of art. Consider the labor involved in creating such a delicate and refined image, and the social context in which such skill was both admired and rewarded. So, when you look at this drawing, remember that the beauty lies not only in the subject, but also in the material and the hand that shaped it. The art challenges traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.