Robert de Sorbon

About this work

This is a black-and-white portrait of a man with a serious face and a wide-brimmed hat. His fur collar is dotted with small marks, and he wears a high-necked garment. Behind him, a small landscape with trees and a building frames the top right corner. The image is enclosed in a circular border, and the words below his name read *"Venerable et scientifique Messire Robert Sorbon."* The tiny lines crisscrossing his face and clothes aren’t paint—they’re made by etching metal, a way to create detailed shadows. This kind of printmaking was common in the 1600s. Next, look up engraving to see how artists like this made sharp, precise images without paint.