Head of a Bearded Man in Profile 1774 - 1789
print, etching, drypoint
portrait
etching
drypoint
realism
Dimensions: 1 7/16 x 1 1/4 in. (3.6 x 3.2 cm) (image)2 7/16 x 2 1/8 in. (6.2 x 5.4 cm) (sheet)
Copyright: Public Domain
Jean-Pierre Norblin de la Gourdaine created this small etching, "Head of a Bearded Man in Profile," using delicate lines to capture the texture of hair and beard. The monochromatic palette emphasizes the form and structure, inviting us to explore how line and shadow define character. The profile view isolates the subject, turning the individual into an archetype of the pensive, intellectual man. The precision of the etching allows for a detailed examination of each stroke, revealing a network of lines that coalesce to form a recognizable image. This recalls semiotic theories, where signs—in this case, lines—combine to create meaning. The artist's decision to focus on the head and shoulders directs our attention to the face. Through the interplay of light and shadow, Norblin de la Gourdaine captures not just a likeness but an essence. The work transcends mere representation to engage with the complex relationship between perception, representation, and identity.
Comments
Jean-Pierre Norblin de la Gourdaine was a French painter and printmaker active in Poland in the late 18th century. Norblin's charming miniature etchings, representing mostly male heads, street sellers, and vagabonds, reflect both in subject and technique the profound influence of Rembrandt's prints. Norblin was also drawn to Polish subjects, capturing the unfamiliar, exotic world around him in his depictions of men with colossal fur hats and curled moustaches, Cossacks, and Polish historical figures.
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