Hoved af en ældre, skægget mand, trekvart profil t.v. 1628 - 1630

Willem Panneels created this head study of an older, bearded man in pen and brown ink over a red chalk ground, sometime in the early 17th century. The sketch immediately draws our attention to the intricate network of lines that define the man's features, hair, and beard. Panneels uses hatching and cross-hatching to model form and create tonal variations, giving depth and volume to the face. Notice how the sinuous lines that depict the hair and beard create a sense of movement and vitality. What is fascinating is how Panneels combines different graphic techniques. The red chalk provides a warm underlayer and a subtle blush to the skin, while the precise pen work adds definition and structure. The composition, cropped tightly around the head, directs our focus to the man's gaze and expression. The contrast between the detailed facial features and the sketchier rendering of the background creates a dynamic tension within the frame. The drawing functions not merely as a study of a model, but as an exploration of line, texture, and form, engaging with broader artistic concerns about representation and the aesthetics of the human figure.