François La Rochefoucauld
1628
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1628
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This is a black-and-white portrait of an older man with a beard and curly hair. He’s wearing a ruffled collar and a chain around his neck, possibly a medal or key. The background is just a plain oval shape with no extra details. The artist used lots of fine lines to create shadows and texture, especially on the man’s face and hair. This technique makes the portrait look almost three-dimensional. If you like this style, look up engraving.
