Victor Bouthillier

About this work

This is a black-and-white portrait of a serious-looking man with a mustache and short curly hair. He wears a high collar with a chain around his neck, and his hands rest on a small shield with a coat of arms. The background is plain, focusing all attention on his face and the symbols beneath. The artist used fine lines to create deep shadows and texture, especially in his clothing and beard. This was a common way to make engravings look three-dimensional. Check out how engraving works to see how artists like this carved detailed images into metal.