Portrait of a Young Man
Original title: Portrait of a Young Man
kurzbeschreibung
A young man in half-profile, wearing a shirt with a tie and a jacket with lapels, is the subject of Francisco de Goya's lithograph 'Portrait of a Young Man,' made around 1820. The print features sharp contours and delicate lines. Goya created it during his later years while living in exile in Bordeaux. Lithography was still a relatively new technique at the time, and Goya explored it experimentally during this period. This portrait of an unknown young man belongs to a group of portrait studies produced in his final years.
Description
A young man, head in half-profile, his hair combed back. He wears a shirt with a tie and a jacket with lapels. The background remains plain and dark, allowing the figure to stand out. The drawing is in black and white; hair and clothing are rendered in detail, with fine lines capturing the texture of skin and fabrics. The precise linework and reduced color give the portrait a focused, intimate mood. The dark background and accurate rendering of face and clothing make the sitter appear immediately present.
Context
Goya made this lithograph in his late years while living in exile in Bordeaux. Lithography was a still-young technique that Goya tested experimentally during this phase. The portrait of an unknown young man is part of a group of portrait studies created in the last years of his life.
Impact
The precise linework and reduced color give the portrait a concentrated, intimate atmosphere. The dark background and the exact rendering of face and clothing make the sitter feel immediately present.
Technique
This lithograph is a planographic printing process in which a fatty crayon is drawn on a stone. This allows fine lines and subtle tonal gradations, visible in the detailed depiction of hair and fabric. The sheet measures 22.5 x 18.5 cm.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)