Outline of a man's head in profile 1520 - 1525

Hans Baldung sketched this ‘Outline of a man's head in profile’ on paper sometime in the first half of the 16th century. Baldung, working in the German Renaissance, lived in a society undergoing significant religious and social upheaval due to the Reformation. The sketch, with its minimalist approach, invites questions about representation and identity. What does it mean to capture a person's essence through mere outline? The profile view, often associated with portraiture, here becomes a study in absence, highlighting the ephemeral nature of identity. Consider too, the sitter; who was he? Was he of nobility? Was he known to Baldung? The Reformation challenged existing power structures and encouraged individual interpretation of religious texts. Baldung, who produced work for both Catholic and Protestant patrons, navigated a complex ideological landscape. This drawing is a striking reminder of the fleeting nature of life, rendered with sparse lines that speak volumes.