Portrait of an Italian 1856

Edgar Degas rendered this "Portrait of an Italian" using charcoal. It's a humble material, really—just burnt wood—but capable of great subtlety in the right hands. Here, the charcoal’s powdery texture gives the image a soft, almost dreamlike quality. Degas coaxes a broad range of tonal values by varying the pressure of the charcoal on the paper, building up darker areas with repeated strokes, and using smudging to blend the tones and soften edges. Look closely, and you’ll see the individual strokes, capturing the sitter's likeness with both precision and spontaneity. The choice of charcoal is interesting, because although drawing is fundamental to all kinds of artistic production, it has often been considered a lesser medium than painting or sculpture. But by embracing drawing, Degas demonstrated that profound artistry can be found even in the simplest of means. It’s a reminder that the value of art isn't necessarily about the preciousness of the materials, but the skill and vision that the artist brings to them.