#15475 Paul Cesar Helleu

The drawing presents three studies of heads in profile, arranged across a rectangular format. The medium appears to be charcoal and red chalk on paper, lending a warmth and immediacy to the work. A muted brown tone dominates the background, allowing the figures to emerge with relative clarity.
On the left, we see a head turned slightly towards the viewer, exhibiting an energetic quality conveyed through the dynamic rendering of the hair. The artist used short, agitated strokes in red chalk to depict the voluminous hairstyle, suggesting movement and vitality. The face itself is rendered with a degree of softness, hinting at youthfulness or perhaps idealization.
The central figure presents a more conventional profile view. Here, the artist employs charcoal to delineate the contours of the face and neck, while again utilizing red chalk for the hair, which cascades down in sweeping curves. A sense of introspection is suggested by the lowered gaze and the subtle curve of the lips. The treatment of light and shadow creates a three-dimensionality that emphasizes the form.
The final head, positioned on the right, is smaller than the others and appears more quickly sketched. It maintains the profile perspective but with less detail in the facial features. This suggests it may have been intended as an exploratory study or a rapid observation.
Subtly, theres a sense of comparison at play between these three studies. The variations in style and level of detail imply that they are not meant to be portraits of specific individuals but rather explorations of form, expression, and the possibilities within portraiture itself. The repeated use of red chalk for the hair across all three figures suggests an interest in capturing a particular quality – perhaps vibrancy or emotional intensity – regardless of the individual’s character. The signature at the bottom right corner indicates authorship, grounding the work within a specific artistic practice.