Head of a Man c. early 1620s

Jusepe de Ribera rendered this head of a man in sanguine red chalk sometime in the 17th century. Ribera, a leading painter of the Spanish Baroque, was deeply influenced by the gritty naturalism of Caravaggio. This study of an old man is characterized by stark realism. Ribera painstakingly details the man’s furrowed brow, heavy jowls and prominent nose, which convey a sense of lived experience. His gaze is knowing, perhaps even world-weary. The red chalk emphasizes the ruddy complexion, lending warmth and immediacy to the figure. In the 17th century, images of older men served as memento mori, reminders of human mortality, but they also represented wisdom and resilience. Ribera here eschews idealized beauty, and finds instead a poignant humanity in the aging process. He asks us to consider how dignity persists even as the body fades.