Portrait De Jeune Homme Barbu Dit L'albinos 

Jean-Joseph-Benjamin Constant created this oil on canvas, *Portrait De Jeune Homme Barbu Dit L'albinos*, in the late 19th century. The somber palette and tight composition draw our attention to the sitter's unusual pallor, which starkly contrasts with the darkness. Constant employs a classical portrait format but disrupts it through his interest in texture and light. The brushstrokes are loose, almost impressionistic, especially in the hair and beard, creating a sense of movement. This texture fights against the flat background, destabilizing traditional notions of depth and space. We can also see the artist's fascination with the semiotics of color and tone. The albinism challenges established categories of beauty, inviting a re-evaluation of social and aesthetic norms. Constant transforms the sitter’s perceived flaw into a focal point, prompting viewers to reconsider fixed ideas about identity and representation.