1630
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Two Studies of an Elderly Man's Head is a 1630 ink by Paulus Pontius, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows two quick drawings of an older man’s face and beard. The lines are loose and wavy, almost like scribbles, but they still catch the shape of his wrinkles and hair. The paper looks old, with a yellowish tint, and one side is stained dark. The artist focused on the beard and hair first—notice how the curls are drawn with quick, overlapping strokes. This was likely practice for a bigger work. Try looking up cross-hatching next to see how artists build shadows with lines.
Paulus Pontius (27 May 1603 – 16 January 1658) was a Flemish engraver and painter.
See the richer artist page
![Sheet of Studies [recto]](https://pub-3a17a9933ad74fb28aa30fa758592f23.r2.dev/artworks/1bdf3f81c9affbae/thumb.webp)
![Study of a Man's Head [recto]](https://pub-3a17a9933ad74fb28aa30fa758592f23.r2.dev/artworks/745204b66df421ed/thumb.webp)
