Pictorial Genre

The Blue Dancers (1899) by Edgar Degas can possibly be recognized as one of the greatest ever pastel drawings. Living, breathing figures captured in a moment they may have deemed a banal peek into their everyday life. To draw from life, or “figure draw," usually refers to the instructional class taught in many schools and academies of fine art. The pastel, charcoal or humble pencil thus signifies the beginnings of an artist's career. It is often regarded as the most ideal way for artists to render the human body and master its line, depth and shape necessary for the portrait, a valuable skill. However, life portraiture often captures the body in motion causing the artist to depict muscle action, direction and perspective. Though the 19th century produced Degas, it also produced the camera and the focus on artists to depict movement – to snapshot life. In Artsper's own selections, the works of life portrait artist Marc Desgrandchamps are inspired by the decomposition of the movement of Eadweard Muybridge's chronophotographic experiments. Whilst Alejandra Caballero's work is much more introspective, noting that the quieter, more subtle movements in life, such as talking on the phone or taking a bath, must also be captured.

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Painting, Un temps pour soi, Alione

Alione

Painting . 90 x 100 x 2 cm Painting . 35.4 x 39.4 x 0.8 inch

£3,889

Painting, Roma, Karine Bartoli

Karine Bartoli

Painting . 46 x 60 x 4 cm Painting . 18.1 x 23.6 x 1.6 inch

£884

Painting, Tour rouge, Rudyard Heaton

Rudyard Heaton

Painting . 80 x 80 x 2 cm Painting . 31.5 x 31.5 x 0.8 inch

£796

Painting, City Living, Julia Whitehead

Julia Whitehead

Painting . 60.5 x 50.5 x 2 cm Painting . 23.8 x 19.9 x 0.8 inch

£1,180

Painting, Saint Tropez, Marek Okrassa

Marek Okrassa

Painting . 180 x 160 x 3 cm Painting . 70.9 x 63 x 1.2 inch

£9,723

Painting, Santorini, Alexandra Djokic

Alexandra Djokic

Painting . 96.8 x 65 x 0.1 cm Painting . 38.1 x 25.6 x 0 inch

£866

Painting, Highs & Lows, Mihai Florea

Mihai Florea

Painting . 60 x 50 x 3 cm Painting . 23.6 x 19.7 x 1.2 inch

£1,679

Painting, Spring, Mónica Castanys

Mónica Castanys

Painting . 70 x 70 x 3 cm Painting . 27.6 x 27.6 x 1.2 inch

£2,563

Painting, Rush hour, Leonard Ngure

Leonard Ngure

Painting . 90.5 x 102.5 x 2 cm Painting . 35.6 x 40.4 x 0.8 inch

£2,387

Painting, Village, Adrien Holy

Adrien Holy

Painting . 26 x 46 x 0.3 cm Painting . 10.2 x 18.1 x 0.1 inch

£954

Painting, Ciclico, Luigi Iona

Luigi Iona

Painting . 70 x 50 x 0.2 cm Painting . 27.6 x 19.7 x 0.1 inch

£133

Painting, Scilla, Marco Santaniello

Marco Santaniello

Painting . 55 x 94 x 3 cm Painting . 21.7 x 37 x 1.2 inch

£4,420

Painting, Départ, Rudyard Heaton

Rudyard Heaton

Painting . 81 x 116 x 2 cm Painting . 31.9 x 45.7 x 0.8 inch

£1,326

Painting, Venice, Alexandra Djokic

Alexandra Djokic

Painting . 104 x 80.3 x 0.1 cm Painting . 40.9 x 31.6 x 0 inch

£4,331

Painting, Flag, Alexander Levich

Alexander Levich

Painting . 100 x 200 x 2 cm Painting . 39.4 x 78.7 x 0.8 inch

£6,364

Painting, Crossroads, Alexander Levich

Alexander Levich

Painting . 100 x 200 x 2 cm Painting . 39.4 x 78.7 x 0.8 inch

£6,364

Painting, Station, Karine Bartoli

Karine Bartoli

Painting . 97 x 130 x 3 cm Painting . 38.2 x 51.2 x 1.2 inch

£2,298

Painting, Pont Neuf, Helen Uter

Helen Uter

Painting . 89 x 116 x 4 cm Painting . 35 x 45.7 x 1.6 inch

£3,094

Painting, Skater 03, Karine Bartoli

Karine Bartoli

Painting . 80 x 100 x 4 cm Painting . 31.5 x 39.4 x 1.6 inch

£1,679

Painting, La pedrera, Josep Moscardó

Josep Moscardó

Painting . 30 x 30 x 4 cm Painting . 11.8 x 11.8 x 1.6 inch

£840

Painting, Marseille, Karine Bartoli

Karine Bartoli

Painting . 97 x 130 x 3 cm Painting . 38.2 x 51.2 x 1.2 inch

£2,298