Cardinal de Retz

About this work

This is a black-and-white portrait of a man with a serious expression. He’s wearing a high collar, a fancy coat, and a chain around his neck with a cross at the end. The background is plain, so all the focus is on his face and clothes. The artist used tiny lines to create shading, making the fabric look textured. This was a common way to add depth in old prints. Next, look up engraving to see how artists like this made detailed images without paint.