1650
chalk
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Dominant colour
Self Portrait of Willem Drost is a 1650 chalk by Dutch 17th Century, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows a man in a loose shirt, holding a piece of paper or brush in his right hand. His hair is short and slightly messy, and he’s looking off to the side with a serious expression. The background is just a plain, light blue paper, so all the focus is on his face and hands. The artist used quick, sketchy lines to capture his features, with some white chalk added to highlight his skin and shirt. It looks like a practice drawing—maybe he was testing how to show light and shadow. If you like this style, check out chiaroscuro next to see how artists use light and dark for drama.
This Dutch artist made small, sharp engravings and etchings—mostly portraits and sea battles—printed from metal plates.
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