100 Heads: Head #3

This is a copy of the John Singer Sargent drawing Mme. Pierre Gautreau (1883). Another 19th century female with no first name of her own.

Sargent's drawing is so beautifully simple. He captures the profile in a few simple strokes. The face is the most defined part of the drawing; the ear and hair are but a few scribbles. How many heads did Sargent draw before he was able to produce such a beautiful portrait with just a few strokes? He makes it look easy, but it isn't.

3B pencil in my Strathmore 400 Series Sketchbook.