A Portrait of a Man 1600 - 1700

This small portrait of a man was drawn with black chalk, heightened with white chalk, on paper. It's a traditional combination of materials, capable of both precision and soft effects. The unknown artist has used these materials with great skill. Chalk allows for blending and shading to create volume and texture. Notice the details in the hair, the folds of the clothing, and the subtle shading of the face. The choice of chalk lends itself to the texture of the paper, and the drawing as a whole is understated, not too showy. Yet there's another story here: portraiture like this was typically commissioned by the sitter, and signals a degree of wealth and status. While the artist and the sitter's name have been lost to us, the portrait remains, reminding us that materials, making, and context are equally important in understanding the full meaning of an artwork.