Shakespeare

Shakespeare

William Walker

1829

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

About this work

This is a black-and-white portrait of a man with a serious expression. He’s wearing a high-collar shirt with ruffles, and his dark hair is slightly wavy. The picture sits inside a decorative oval frame with scrollwork and small figures at the bottom. The name "Shakespeare" is written below the portrait, suggesting this is a famous figure. The artist used fine lines to create shadows and texture, which makes the face look detailed. If you like this style, check out engraving to see how artists use lines to build depth.

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