1588
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Head of an Apostle is a 1588 ink by Hendrik Goltzius, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows a half-length portrait of a bearded man with curly hair and a high forehead. He’s turned slightly to the side, looking down and to the left, with his right hand resting on his chest. The background is plain, letting the face and hands stand out in soft brown ink and wash. The artist used quick, loose lines to capture the face and folds of the fabric, giving it a sketchy, almost unfinished feel. The paper shows texture, and the ink varies in darkness, adding depth. Next, check out the technique: cross-hatching to see how artists build shadows with crisscrossed lines.
Hendrick Goltzius (German: , Dutch: ; né Goltz; January or February 1558 – 1 January 1617) was a German-born Dutch printmaker, draftsman, and painter.
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