Head Study of a Young Man Looking Upward Possibly 1660

Dirk Helmbreker created this red chalk drawing, "Head Study of a Young Man Looking Upward," sometime in the 17th century, a period marked by social stratification and religious conflict. The upward gaze of the young man is striking. What is he looking at? Is it an expression of religious devotion? Or an awareness of something beyond his immediate circumstances? Helmbreker’s choice to depict the subject in this way invites us to consider the role of the individual within the larger social and political structures of the time. The details of the face are softly rendered, conveying a sense of vulnerability, and perhaps an alternative to the traditionally masculine images of the period. This drawing invites us to reflect on the aspirations and constraints of individuals navigating a world shaped by power, faith, and social expectations.