Portrait of an Unknown Gentleman
1649
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
About the artist
1649
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Portrait of an Unknown Gentleman is a 1649 ink by Jean Lenfant, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This is a black-and-white engraving of a man with a serious face. He’s wearing a ruffled collar and a wide-brimmed hat with swirling designs around it. Below his portrait, there’s a coat of arms with a crown and two lions on either side. The lines are all made by etching, which creates a textured look. This style was common in the 1600s for detailed portraits. Look up engraving to see how artists create these sharp, layered images.
