Kop van man met snor 1784

Editor: We’re looking at “Kop van man met snor,” or "Head of a man with a mustache,” a pencil drawing made in 1784 by Jean-Pierre Norblin de la Gourdaine. It's a small, rather intense portrait. I’m struck by the almost confrontational expression – it feels very direct. What do you make of this drawing? Curator: Oh, I feel him staring right through me, doesn’t he? This work vibrates with an immediate energy, even though it's been over two centuries since the pencil touched the page. What’s compelling is the way Norblin has used what appears to be a very economical use of line, a kind of artistic shorthand. And yet, observe how he evokes so much character with such precision! He isn't flattering his sitter, is he? It's as if he captured him in mid-thought. Tell me, what do you think that thought might be? Editor: Hmm, perhaps suspicion? Or impatience? The eyes are very knowing. It almost feels like a character study for a play. Curator: Yes! Precisely. Norblin was fascinated by human expression. He sought the fleeting moment of revelation that could reveal the inner self. Don't you find something rather modern about that? To distill a person down to just a few skillfully placed lines? Editor: Absolutely! I hadn't considered it in that light, but you’re right, there's a raw, almost urgent quality to it that feels very contemporary. It makes me want to learn more about the artist and this time period. Curator: And for me, each viewing renews my fascination with the endless possibilities of drawing—a medium that’s seemingly simple, but capable of expressing volumes. It also highlights the skill of portraitists, who aren’t mere transcribers of features, but true interpreters of character!