Head of a Youth c. 18th century

Curator: I find this small drawing, "Head of a Youth," quite affecting; there's a pensiveness to it. Editor: Indeed. The diagonal hatching creates an almost melancholy mood, doesn't it? Who made it? Curator: The artist is Pietro Antonio Novelli, a Venetian painter from the 18th century, now held at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: I see the cross-hatching in the background flattens the image, making it more about the graphic quality than representation. Is there something to unpack about the identity of the sitter? Curator: Perhaps; without concrete dating, it's difficult to say how the depiction reflects the social context of youth at the time. Editor: Still, I appreciate the artist's skill in conveying so much emotion through line alone. It makes me consider the changing definitions of youth and innocence across time. Curator: Yes, it's a testament to Novelli's command of form that we can still find resonance in this face today.