Head of Saint John the Baptist
1797
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1797
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Head of Saint John the Baptist is a 1797 ink by Butts, Jr., Thomas, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This is a black-and-white drawing of a bearded face looking down. The hair and beard are made of swirling lines, almost like waves. The face itself is simple, with strong shadows under the eyes and nose. The artist used a technique where ink is scratched into a metal plate to create texture. This piece is a reprint of an old etching that was later reused. Next, look up technique: etching to see how artists create these kinds of prints.
