Hasenböhler, Niklaus - Malerei, Metzger Hans

About this work

This painting shows a man with a serious expression, half-lit by a dim light. His face is mostly in shadow, but a faint glow highlights one cheek and his eyes. The background is dark, almost black, while his collar and cuffs stand out in rough, purple brushstrokes. His hands rest in his lap, one slightly raised, and the paint looks thick and uneven, as if applied quickly. The artist’s name, *Metzger Hans*, is written in the top corner—likely the sitter’s name, not the painter’s. The mix of light and shadow gives the face a dramatic, almost mysterious feel. Next, look up *chiaroscuro* to see how this lighting trick works in other paintings.