Portrait of Jean Ajalbert

c. 1893

Eugène Carrière

(French, 1849–1906)

Culture

France, 19th century

Medium

charcoal with white chalk

Support

Blue laid paper

Measurements

Sheet: 27.4 x 23.7 cm (10 13/16 x 9 5/16 in.)

Credit Line

Bequest of Muriel Butkin 2009.116

Catalogue raisonné

Lugt 434 & Lugt 434a

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Location

Not on view

Did You Know?

One of Eugène Carrière's portraits of Jean Ajalbert was translated to lithography and included as a frontispiece to his novel Sao Van Di (1905).

Description

This drawing is one of several portraits that Eugène Carrière created of the naturalist writer and art critic Jean Ajalbert. Both were part of the same Symbolist artistic and literary circles in Paris during the late 19th century. Portraiture was a favorite genre for Carrière, who often portrayed his friends and colleagues. Here, Ajalbert looks forward directly, seemingly in contrast with his otherwise hazy visage and surroundings.