Kop van man met snor en witte muts c. 1774 - 1789

Jean-Pierre Norblin de la Gourdaine made this small, undated etching titled "Head of a Man with Moustache and White Cap". The portrait, contained within an oval frame, draws us in with its striking use of light and shadow. Notice how the artist employs dense, cross-hatched lines to define the man's features, creating depth and volume. The stark contrast between the dark, shadowed areas and the highlights on his face and cap gives the image a dramatic quality. This chiaroscuro effect is not just a technique, but a means of conveying character, hinting at the subject's age and perhaps a life marked by experience. The materiality of the etching medium itself – the fine lines etched into the metal plate – adds a layer of texture to the image. The formal qualities of the portrait, from its composition to its execution, invite us to consider how Norblin used the visual language of his time to capture and communicate aspects of human character.