George, Lord Jeffreys
1684
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This is a black-and-white portrait of a man with curly hair and a fancy lace collar. His face is round, and he’s wearing a dark robe with intricate patterns on the sleeves. The background is plain, focusing all attention on him. The artist used a technique called *mezzotint*—a way of etching fine lines to create deep shadows and smooth tones. This method makes the portrait look rich and detailed, even though it’s monochrome. Check out more about the technique: mezzotint next.
