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Portrait of a Man

Unknown

1550

unspecified

From the collection of Statens Museum for Kunst

Portrait

Dominant colour

Portrait of a Man is a 1550 unspecified by Unknown, held at Statens Museum for Kunst.

Who painted this?: Unknown
When & what style?: 1550
Where can I see it?: Statens Museum for Kunst

About this work

This painting shows a serious-looking man with a dark beard and curly hair. He’s wearing a dark, simple outfit, and the background is mostly black. His hands are visible—one resting on his chest, the other tucked away—but the rest of his body is cut off by the painting’s edge. The dark background makes his face stand out sharply. The lighting focuses on his features, giving them a three-dimensional look. Check out *chiaroscuro* to see how artists use light and shadow like this.