Portrait of an Egyptian Fellah (1856)
Technique: Giclée quality print
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Jean-Léon Gérôme's 1856 drawing *Portrait of an Egyptian Fellah* captivates viewers with its stark realism and meticulous detail, manifesting Gérôme's keen interest in ethnographic accuracy. The artwork features a side profile of a young Egyptian farmer, or fellah, rendered with a delicate and precise pencil technique that highlights the contours and features of his face and attire with exceptional clarity.The subject is adorned in a traditional headwrap, known as a turban, which is elegantly draped around his head, suggesting both a practical response to his environment and a deep-rooted cultural tradition. The sharp lines of his facial profile, with its prominent nose and softly closed lips, convey a somber intensity and quiet dignity. His traditional robe, partially visible in the drawing, is detailed with fine lines that suggest the texture and flow of the fabric, with small, spherical objects that could be buttons or decorative embellishments lining the garment.A notable aspect of this portrait is the addition of Arabic script at the bottom right corner, which situates the piece within its cultural and geographic context, adding an element of authenticity and specific identity to the work.
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Jean-Léon Gérôme was a French painter and sculptor in the style now known as academicism. His paintings were so widely reproduced that he was "arguably the world's most famous living artist by 1880." The range of his oeuvre included historical painting, Greek mythology, Orientalism, portraits, and other subjects, bringing the academic painting tradition to an artistic climax. He is considered one of the most important painters from this academic period. He was also a teacher with a long list of students.