19th Century Pencil Portrait on Paper

This item is an original pencil drawing on paper, likely dating to the 19th century. The artwork features a highly expressive, gestural portrait of a face, rendered with a combination of delicate lines and deep, emphatic shading around the eye socket and facial contours. The style is reminiscent of academic studies or preparatory sketches from the Romantic or early Realist periods, focusing on the capture of light, shadow, and emotional depth rather than precise anatomical detail. The medium appears to be graphite pencil on a light-colored paper substrate, which shows signs of age-appropriate toning. The construction involves layered hatching and cross-hatching to build volume. Notable features include the intense rendering of the figure's right eye and brow, contrasting with the more ephemeral treatment of the rest of the face. In terms of condition, the image shows significant compression artifacts and pixelation due to digital capture quality, but the original work likely possesses a subtle texture common to hand-laid paper. There are no clearly visible maker's marks or signatures in the provided view, suggesting it may be a student study or a personal sketchbook entry. The craftsmanship is evidenced by the fluid linework and sophisticated use of chiaroscuro to define form through contrast.