An Old Man in Profile 1761

This is Captain William Baillie’s, "An Old Man in Profile," a monochromatic print at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Here, the composition is dominated by the contrast between light and shadow, carefully delineating the contours of the old man's face. The stark profile view, rendered in meticulous detail, allows us to study the lines etched by time. Baillie masterfully uses hatching and cross-hatching to model form and convey texture, the beard appearing almost palpable. It has been suggested that Baillie's artistic practice involved copying and reworking prints by masters such as Rembrandt. This piece shows us that he explored themes of aging and introspection while engaging in a dialogue with earlier artistic traditions. Consider how the artist uses the formal elements of line, texture, and tonal contrast to create a poignant study of human character. The artwork stands as a testament to the enduring power of portraiture to capture not just physical likeness, but also the essence of lived experience.