Maurice Quentin de la Tour

About this work

This black-and-white print shows a man in a big hat and curly wig, sitting with one arm resting on a table. Behind him, a smaller face peeks out from a framed picture on the wall. The table has books, a feather quill, and a piece of paper with writing on it. The man looks relaxed but focused, like he’s deep in thought. The artist used fine lines to show details in his clothes and the texture of the books. This is an example of etching, a technique where artists scratch into metal plates to create prints.