Despreaux-Nicolas Boileau
1800
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1800
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This is a black-and-white portrait of a man with curly hair and a high forehead. He’s facing slightly to the side, wearing what looks like a wig with loose curls. The background is plain, and the whole image is framed inside a decorative oval border with a text box below it. The name "BOULEAU" is printed under the portrait, which matches the title *Despreaux-Nicolas Boileau*. The artist used a technique that layers lines to create shading, giving the image a textured look. Next, check out etching to see how artists like Saint-Aubin built up details with needles and acid.
