An Old Man Reading
1642
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1642
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
An Old Man Reading is a 1642 ink by Ferdinand Bol, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows an older man sitting in a chair, hunched over a book. His wild hair and beard frame a focused face, and he wears a loose robe. The lines around him—his wrinkles, the chair’s curves, even the folds of his clothes—are all drawn with quick, scratchy strokes. The artist used a technique that layers lines to build up shadows and texture, making the image feel both rough and detailed. This style was common in the 1600s. Next, check out etching, drypoint to see how artists create these kinds of prints.
