Eleven head studies 

Francesco Fontebasso created this study of eleven heads with pen and brown ink, sometime in the 18th century. At this time Venice was a cosmopolitan hub, yet also operated within a rigid social hierarchy. Fontebasso, like many artists, navigated these structures through his art. Looking closely, we see the contrast between the detailed faces and the quickly sketched bodies, a common practice for artists preparing for larger works. These are studies for paintings of religious or mythological scenes, where the figures would represent idealized types, rather than individuals. Yet, in their gaze, there's a hint of the theatrical, an emotional intensity that feels deeply human. Fontebasso seems to be searching for ways to represent universal emotions, within the constraints of his time, he seems to be suggesting the possibility of shared human experiences that transcend social roles.