Portrait of a Boy in Profile
1641
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
This sketch shows a boy’s face turned slightly away, his hair wild and curly. His collar is high and lacy, with a dark ribbon or chain peeking out. The lines are loose and scratchy, like quick strokes with a pencil or pen—no smooth shading here. The paper looks old and worn, with faint marks in the corners. The artist didn’t bother filling in every detail, just the big shapes and textures. That’s the point. Look up chiaroscuro next to see how light and dark create drama in art.
