The William Benton
Museum of Art

Charcoal is made from willow or vine twigs heated at a high temperature without oxygen. The process produces a charred stick that when pressed to paper leaves behind microscopic particles. The medium is easily manipulated, enabling artists to make both marks and corrections quickly and rendering charcoal ideal for sketches as well as highly finished drawings. 

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Traditional academic instruction in 18th and 19th century Europe emphasized the depiction of the human form, particularly the male nude. These three drawings sample different approaches to the subject, from Henry Ossawa Tanner’s quick sketch to Benjamin West’s more articulated study and Jacques-Louis David’s finished drawing. Drawing from life remains an important component of instruction in studio art today.