Small Oriental Head
Giovanni Benedetto Castiglione
1646
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Giovanni Benedetto Castiglione
1646
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This drawing shows a person’s side profile, with a headscarf wrapped tightly around their head. The lines are loose and fast, giving the hair and cloth a fuzzy, textured look. The face is simple but expressive, with just a few marks for the eyes and mouth. The name *Castiglione Genovese* is written in the top corner—maybe the artist’s last name or the person drawn. The paper has a rough, textured look, typical of older prints. Next, check out etching to see how artists like this made detailed prints with acid and metal plates.