Masked Man with Twisted Feet

Masked Man with Twisted Feet

Jacques Callot

1622

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

About this work

This sketch shows a strange, hunched figure with a twisted face covered by a mask. The person’s feet are bent backward like a clown’s, and they’re holding a long pole with a small wheel on the end. Their clothes look stiff, almost like armor, and their posture is awkward, like they’re struggling to stand. The artist used sharp lines to make the figure look both funny and a little scary. The mask hides the face completely, which makes the whole scene feel mysterious. Next, look up etching to see how artists like this created detailed prints.

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