Jean Baptiste Simeon Chardin
1771
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1771
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This is a black-and-white portrait of a man with round glasses and a slight smile. He’s wearing a white cap with a bow and a dark jacket over a light shirt. The background is plain and dark, keeping all the focus on his face. The frame looks fancy, with carved details around the edges. This isn’t a painting—it’s made using a printing method called etching. Look up etching to see how artists use acid and metal plates to create these sharp, detailed prints.
