Head of a Young Man in a Cap
1727
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
1727
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
This sketch shows a young man wearing a cap, his face turned slightly to the side. The drawing is loose and quick, with dark lines and smudges for shadows. The paper looks worn, like it’s been handled a lot. The artist left some areas light and others very dark, which makes the face pop out. This style was common back then to give portraits a dramatic feel. Check out chiaroscuro to see how artists used light and shadow like this.
