Adam de Coster

About this work

This is a black-and-white portrait of a man with a serious expression. He’s wearing a ruffled collar and a dark, puffy-sleeved shirt. His right hand rests on his chest, and his left hand holds a piece of paper or cloth. The background is plain, keeping all the focus on his face and posture. The artist used tiny lines to build up the shading, giving the image depth. This isn’t a painting—it’s an engraving, which means it was etched into metal and printed. Want to learn more? Check out engraving to see how artists create detailed prints this way.