Bust of a young man turned to the left 1548 - 1612

Bernardino Poccetti rendered this drawing of a young man in an indeterminate medium, sometime between the 16th and 17th centuries. Notice the delicate interplay of light and shadow that models the subject's face and clothing. Poccetti masterfully employs hatching and cross-hatching, a technique that adds depth and volume to the figure, while simultaneously revealing the artist’s hand. The lack of sharp, definitive outlines contributes to the drawing's softness, but is juxtaposed by the starkness of the bust against the muted paper. Consider how the artist uses line to convey not just form, but also the texture of the hair and the fall of the fabric. These are not merely representational choices; they are integral to understanding the drawing's expressive content. Poccetti’s focus on the materiality of the lines and the construction of form invites us to appreciate the drawing as an object of artistic labor.