1637
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Head of a Man Turned Left is a 1637 ink by Stefano Della Bella, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This is a black-and-white drawing of a man’s head turned slightly to the left. His curly hair is drawn with quick, swirling lines, and his face has a calm, serious look. The lines around his collar and hair show texture, making it look almost three-dimensional. The artist used a technique that lets ink sit in the grooves of the plate, creating sharp, detailed lines. This was a common way to make prints in the 1600s. Look up etching to see how artists like this made prints.
Stefano della Bella (18 May 1610 – 12 July 1664) was an Italian draughtsman and printmaker known for etchings of a great variety of subjects, including military and court scenes, landscapes, and lively genre scenes.
See the richer artist page
![Head of a Man [recto]](https://pub-3a17a9933ad74fb28aa30fa758592f23.r2.dev/artworks/d6e68ba78da40efa/thumb.webp)
![Head of a Young Man [recto]](https://pub-3a17a9933ad74fb28aa30fa758592f23.r2.dev/artworks/f3e12a86c43ae2a0/thumb.webp)
![The Flight into Egypt [verso]](https://pub-3a17a9933ad74fb28aa30fa758592f23.r2.dev/artworks/3a100db72e6d25e3/thumb.webp)
