Study of a Bearded Man [verso] c. 1508 - 1510

Hans Holbein the Elder made this drawing of a bearded man with pen and black ink on paper sometime in the late 15th or early 16th century. The drawing offers a glimpse into the world of art production in the Northern Renaissance, where the detailed study of the human form was becoming increasingly valued, particularly in the context of religious painting. Made in Augsburg, Germany, this artwork is a product of a society undergoing significant religious and social change with the stirrings of the Reformation. The level of detail suggests that this is either a preparatory sketch, a practice piece to hone a specific element, or a portrait study. The fact that it has been preserved points to a wider appreciation for drawing as a skill and as an art form in its own right. Holbein was working at a time when the institutions of art were in transition, moving from a guild-based system to one where individual artists could achieve fame and recognition. Art historians consult drawings like this to understand artists’ working methods, and they shed light on the place of art within culture more generally.