Self-Portrait (?) with Plumed Cap and Lowered Sabre
1634
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This is a black-and-white drawing of a man wearing a wide-brimmed hat with a feather sticking up. His curly hair is loose, and he’s holding a sword at his side, pointing downward. The background is plain, with just a few faint lines around the edges. The artist signed it in the corner, which is common for etchings. This style of drawing was made by pressing ink onto a metal plate with carved lines. Next, check out etching to see how artists like this made prints.
