A Bearded Man in a Cloak and Turban Facing Right. 1610 - 1664

Stefano della Bella created this drawing of 'A Bearded Man in a Cloak and Turban Facing Right' using pen and brown ink. The small scale compels a close viewing, drawing us into the intricate network of lines that define the figure. The sketch is dominated by the curving contours of the cloak and turban, which contrast with the angularity of the man's face. The lines are not merely descriptive; they seem to probe the essence of form itself. Observe how Bella uses hatching to suggest volume and shadow. The unfinished nature of the sketch is important, challenging the idea of a complete or definitive representation. In its structural incompleteness, the sketch invites us to consider the process of image-making. It prompts us to question what it means to represent the human form and its cultural connotations, in early modern Europe.