Head of a Boy

Head of a Boy by Jacques-Louis David is an arresting study executed in black chalk on bluish laid paper, dating from the pivotal years between 1775 and 1780. This significant drawing belongs to the French tradition and provides crucial insight into David's formative working methods before he fully defined Neoclassicism. Created during the period spanning 1751 to 1775, this work demonstrates the young artist's commitment to rigorous anatomical and emotional study, a necessity for the grand historical paintings he would soon undertake.

The choice of black chalk on colored paper allows David to achieve stark contrasts and subtle modeling, emphasizing the youthful features and expression of the subject. David utilizes swift, confident strokes to define the contours of the boy’s head and neck, reserving blending techniques for the soft transition of light across the face. This particular technique, which prioritizes volumetric accuracy, showcases the academic rigor instilled in the artist during his time in Rome, where he absorbed classical principles firsthand. Although the specific identity of the sitter is unknown, the piece functions effectively as a study of human expression, likely intended as preparation for incorporating figures into larger compositional history paintings.

Such preparatory works are essential documents for understanding the development of the Neoclassical style. This drawing highlights the masterful control David exerted over his chosen medium even early in his career, establishing the technical foundations for his later, widely celebrated oil paintings. The piece is held in the prestigious collection of the National Gallery of Art. Due to its historical significance and placement in major collections, high-quality reproductions and prints of this foundational French study are widely available to researchers and available through the public domain.