The Hand and the Brush Born in Troyes, France, Paul Steck began his life as Paul Albert Dugas. He spent his early years absorbing the discipline of the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris, where he studied under Jean-Léon Gérôme. His work moved between the quietude of landscapes and the weight of historical scenes. He also turned his attention to the human face, capturing portraits from life that sought to pin down a specific presence. There…