Portrait of the Artist
1650
unspecified
From the collection of Statens Museum for Kunst
Portrait of the Artist is a 1650 unspecified by Unknown, held at Statens Museum for Kunst.
This painting shows a single man in profile, his face turned slightly toward us. He wears a dark, fur-lined coat with a high collar, and his expression is serious. The background is completely black, making his face stand out sharply. The lighting focuses on his face, leaving the rest in shadow. This kind of strong contrast was a common trick in older portraits. Look up chiaroscuro to learn more about this technique.
