Head of a Bearded Man 16th-17th century

Curator: Guido Reni, born in Bologna in 1575, captured this Head of a Bearded Man in a drawing, now part of the Harvard Art Museums' collection. Editor: The wisps of charcoal give him such a pensive mood, don't you think? Almost like he's gazing into some profound inner distance. Curator: Note how Reni uses short, broken lines to create texture in the beard and hair, adding volume and depth. Editor: Yes, and the economy of line is striking! He suggests so much with so little—a trick of the masters, really. It gives it this vibrant, almost unfinished quality. Curator: Reni was renowned for his idealized figures, often drawing from life, as seen in the raw expressiveness here. Editor: It's a beautiful study, capturing humanity in such an intimate way. Curator: I'm struck by how Reni captured such depth of character through such simple means. Editor: Me too; it feels both timeless and intensely present.