Portrait of a Man
1700
chalk
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1700
chalk
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This sketch shows a man with curly hair and a serious look, drawn in reddish-brown chalk. His collar is slightly loose, and the lines around his face and hands are softly shaded. The background has faint leafy shapes on the left side, but the focus stays on his face and shoulders. The artist used quick, light strokes to suggest fabric folds and hair texture. This style was common in studies before finished paintings. Next, look up chiaroscuro to see how light and shadow create depth in drawings.
