The Persian
1632
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This sketch shows a man in a long, loose coat with fur trim and a tall hat. His face is wrinkled, and he leans on a walking stick. The lines are rough, almost scratchy, giving the whole image a textured look. The artist used a technique that lets ink sit in the grooves of the metal plate, creating this grainy effect. It’s not smooth like a painting—more like a quick, expressive drawing. Next, look up etching to see how artists like Rembrandt made prints this way.
