Small Grotesque Head

Jusepe de Ribera

1622

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Baroque Baroque Portrait

About this work

This sketch shows a close-up of a wrinkled face in profile. The skin looks rough, with deep lines around the eyes and mouth. A feathered hat sits crookedly on the head, and the person’s hand rests on their shoulder. The artist used sharp lines to show texture, making the face look almost three-dimensional. This style was common in etchings of the time. Next, check out etching to see how artists like this made detailed prints.