Head of a Man (mid-18th century)
Original title: Head of a Man
kurzbeschreibung
Gilles Demarteau made this crayon-manner engraving, Kopf eines Mannes, in the mid-eighteenth century. It shows the profile of an elderly gentleman with strongly marked features and a grey beard.
Description
An old man is seen in profile. A short strand of grey hair curls back from his head, while a thick, white, wavy beard and moustache frame the face. Wrinkles run through the features. The sitter wears a plain dark jacket with a collar. The ground stays bare, carrying only horizontal strokes that create shadow and depth. Greys dominate the sheet and bring out the precise working of the face.
Context
Demarteau, an eighteenth-century French engraver, became known for his work in the crayon manner. The process imitated the look of chalk drawings, which was of great interest in the Rococo. Portraits and head studies were in demand in the art world of the period, and this sheet belongs to that setting.
Impact
The careful grasp of the face and the graded greys give the portrait a calm, dignified presence. Wrinkles and hair are rendered so exactly that the sitter feels close at hand.
Technique
The print was executed as a crayon-manner engraving, using punches and roulettes on the plate to produce the effect of chalk on paper. The paper measures 49.2 x 35.5 cm, and the precision of this printing method is evident in it.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)