Buste van een jongen, naar rechts 1646 - 1670

Here, we see "Buste van een jongen, naar rechts" (Bust of a Boy, Facing Right) created by Hubert Quellinus. It presents a study in form through the precise medium of engraving. The composition is strikingly simple: a young boy's bust is depicted with careful attention to the classical draping of the toga. Quellinus's technical skill is evident in the fine lines that define the boy's features and the subtle gradations of light and shadow. The formal restraint evokes classical sculpture, with the figure placed on a plinth, enhancing its timeless quality. This classical illusion asks us to consider how Quellinus uses line and form to mediate between historical ideals and immediate visual experience. The background is a grid, which destabilizes any fixed or singular reading by reminding us of its constructed nature and invites ongoing interpretations.