Head of a Monastic n.d.

Editor: This is "Head of a Monastic," a drawing of sorts by an anonymous artist, made with black chalk on paper. I'm really struck by the subject’s direct gaze and the incredibly detailed rendering of his face, like you could almost know the story of his life by looking into his eyes. What can you tell me about this piece? Curator: Ah, yes, that unflinching stare, it feels as though the monk is looking *through* us, doesn’t it? Makes you wonder what sort of contemplation occupied his days. It's unsigned, undated, so it could be from anywhere within a couple centuries. The skill in capturing that momentary glance is what catches *my* attention. The subtle lines that speak volumes, as if the artist sought to grasp not just a likeness, but a fleeting essence. And those gentle highlights around the nose; a secret exposed. Don't you feel drawn into this dance, Editor, a dance between artist and sitter? Editor: Absolutely. And how the black chalk gives it such a soft, almost dreamlike quality. Did portraits of religious figures have a particular function at the time, or express a specific idea? Curator: Function... idea... That's such a scholar way of putting it! Function, yes, devotion; but maybe there’s also something intensely personal going on between the image and the person doing the contemplating. You could have this guy in your chambers, keep you company, but his eyes make me feel I ought to confess something! You agree? It seems to be an unedited glimpse into an ordinary person, not a hero. This kind of image reminds you to reflect on a simple life. Editor: I suppose there is something quite simple about that expression. So, from fleeting essence to everyday life? A new way of appreciating monastic portraiture. Thanks! Curator: Indeed. I’m off now to do some simple reflection myself... Maybe about lunch!