Jean-Louis Guez de Balzac

About this work

This is a black-and-white portrait of a man with curly hair and a mustache. He’s wearing a draped garment over his shoulders, and his face is turned slightly to the side. The lines are sharp, almost scratchy, with lots of tiny marks creating shadows and texture. The top of the image has Latin text naming the man and his age. The bottom has more Latin, likely a quote or description. The paper looks old and textured, like it was made by hand. This is an example of engraving, a technique where artists etch lines into a metal plate.