Frederic Regamey

Frederic Regamey

Alphonse Legros

1874

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

About this work

This sketch shows a man’s face in profile, turned slightly toward us. His hair is thick and curly, his beard full, and his collar is neatly buttoned. The lines are scratchy and uneven, like they were drawn quickly with a sharp tool. The artist used a technique called *drypoint*—a type of etching where the lines are made by scratching directly into a metal plate. This creates a rough, textured look that feels almost alive. Next, check out technique: chiaroscuro to see how light and shadow create drama in art.

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