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

$5,157

Painting, Roma, Karine Bartoli

Karine Bartoli

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

$1,172

Painting, Tour rouge, Rudyard Heaton

Rudyard Heaton

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

$1,055

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

$1,565

Painting, Saint Tropez, Marek Okrassa

Marek Okrassa

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

$12,893

Painting, Santorini, Alexandra Djokic

Alexandra Djokic

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

$1,149

Painting, Highs & Lows, Mihai Florea

Mihai Florea

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

$2,227

Painting, Spring, Mónica Castanys

Mónica Castanys

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

$3,399

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

$3,165

Painting, Village, Adrien Holy

Adrien Holy

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

$1,265

Painting, Ciclico, Luigi Iona

Luigi Iona

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

$176

Painting, Scilla, Marco Santaniello

Marco Santaniello

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

$5,861

Painting, Départ, Rudyard Heaton

Rudyard Heaton

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

$1,758

Painting, Venice, Alexandra Djokic

Alexandra Djokic

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

$5,743

Painting, Flag, Alexander Levich

Alexander Levich

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

$8,439

Painting, Crossroads, Alexander Levich

Alexander Levich

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

$8,439

Painting, Station, Karine Bartoli

Karine Bartoli

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

$3,048

Painting, Pont Neuf, Helen Uter

Helen Uter

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

$4,102

Painting, Skater 03, Karine Bartoli

Karine Bartoli

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

$2,227

Painting, La pedrera, Josep Moscardó

Josep Moscardó

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

$1,114

Painting, Marseille, Karine Bartoli

Karine Bartoli

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

$3,048