Marcel Roche (1890–1959) - Seated Child - Charcoal On Paper

Marcel ROCHE (1890–1959)
Seated Child
Charcoal on paper
17 × 24 cm unframed
Signed “Marcel Roche” in the lower right corner
Original work
Sold with its frame and museum-quality glass

In this intimate drawing, Marcel Roche captures a young child sitting in a natural and focused pose. Stripped of all superfluous decoration, the composition relies entirely on the quality of the line and the observation of the body.

The line, supple and precise, defines the forms with remarkable economy of means, while a few more pronounced strokes emphasize the model’s hair, legs, and shadows. The artist focuses less on the portrait than on the authenticity of a gesture and a pose.

This work attests to the importance of drawing in the practice of Marcel Roche, an artist trained at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris and the Académie Julian, whose graphic works are notably represented in the collections of the Louvre.