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Portrait of a Young Man

Unknown

1750

unspecified

From the collection of Statens Museum for Kunst

Portrait

Dominant colour

Portrait of a Young Man is a 1750 unspecified by Unknown, held at Statens Museum for Kunst.

Who painted this?: Unknown
When & what style?: 1750
Where can I see it?: Statens Museum for Kunst

About this work

This black-and-white portrait shows a young man with dark, wavy hair and a serious expression. He’s wearing a dark coat with a high collar and a white cravat tied neatly at his throat. The background is plain and dark, keeping all focus on his face. The painting uses soft shading to show light and shadow on his face, making it look almost three-dimensional. This effect is called *chiaroscuro*—a technique that was popular long before this painting. Look up chiaroscuro to see how artists use light and dark to create drama.