Fragmentary Shroud with a Bearded Young Man 150

Editor: This is "Fragmentary Shroud with a Bearded Young Man," dating back to around 150 AD. It’s a tempera on linen and resides at the Met. I'm struck by the subject's direct gaze and the rather deteriorated state of the shroud. What aspects of this work capture your attention from a formalist point of view? Curator: Certainly. From a formalist perspective, my eye is drawn to the interplay between representation and materiality. Notice how the artist has used tempera to create a relatively realistic portrayal of the young man, paying attention to subtle gradations of light and shadow to sculpt the face and depict the texture of the hair. Editor: Yes, the use of light is interesting. What about the fragmented nature of the linen? It's almost like another layer of meaning. Curator: Indeed, the fragmentary state is highly significant. The damage becomes a visual element itself. It underscores the work’s existence as an object, a constructed artifact existing in time and space. Consider, too, how the remaining color and the damaged portions work in tandem, setting up their own dialogue in which the eye bounces between what the painter originally wanted you to see, and the subsequent ‘intervention’ of decay. The work's semiotic value relies greatly on what parts remain, and what they suggest to modern audiences. Editor: I see your point. I was focusing on the figure but I should also appreciate the formal qualities of the shroud itself, especially now that its materiality is so evident. It almost becomes abstract! Curator: Precisely! By isolating and closely examining the visual components—line, color, texture, and composition—we’ve begun to grasp how these formal elements coalesce to shape meaning. The visible decay challenges traditional notions of beauty and permanence, turning this Fayum portrait into an object worthy of discussion. Editor: This gives me a fresh appreciation for the shroud! Curator: I’m happy to share my point of view with you. Formalism is not always as it seems. There’s much more to glean upon each subsequent viewing.