Head of a Bearded Old Man in Profile to the Right 1800

Johann Evangelist Kastner made this red chalk drawing, Head of a Bearded Old Man in Profile to the Right, around 1800. It depicts the head of an old man with long hair and a beard, facing right. The drawing resembles academic studies that were a staple of artistic training in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. During this period, art academies across Europe and beyond promoted a style rooted in classical ideals. Students would copy antique sculptures and drawings, learning to render the human form in a precise and idealized manner. This drawing might have served as a model for students to copy, instilling in them a sense of tradition. However, with its unconventional color, it could also be an exercise in departing from that tradition, since academic studies were usually rendered in black and white. To understand the drawing better, we can research the history of art academies and their role in shaping artistic taste, and we might also explore the market for teaching aids during this period. Doing so will help us reflect on how institutions can simultaneously preserve and challenge artistic conventions.