Bust of a Man Wearing a High Cap, Three-Quarters Right (The Artist's Father?)
1630
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This is a black-and-white portrait of an older man with a long beard and deep wrinkles. He’s wearing a high, rounded hat and a fur collar around his neck. The lines are scratchy and uneven, making his face look rough and textured. The artist used a technique that lets ink pile up in the grooves, creating a grainy, almost sketchy effect. This isn’t a smooth painting—it’s more like a detailed drawing pressed onto paper. Next, look up etching to see how artists like Rembrandt made prints this way.
