Head of a Man 1837 - 1911

Alphonse Legros created this drawing, Head of a Man, using graphite on paper. Though undated, it was likely made in England, where the French-born Legros spent much of his career teaching at the Slade School of Art. Legros’s aesthetic was formed by the Pre-Raphaelites and by his early training in the French academic system. This head exemplifies the period’s interest in realism and the revival of printmaking techniques. The drawing’s meticulous cross-hatching and attention to detail also recall the Old Masters who were then being rediscovered by collectors and museums. Legros's work often reflects a broader cultural fascination with the past, as seen in the rise of historical novels and theatrical productions. Art historians consult a variety of sources, from exhibition reviews to artists' letters, to more fully understand an artwork’s social, institutional, and intellectual contexts. It reminds us that art is never made in a vacuum, and its meanings shift over time.