Five Grotesque Heads c. 18th century

These Five Grotesque Heads were drawn by Gaetano Gandolfi, using pen and brown ink with brown wash on laid paper. The material qualities are notable here. The ink, applied with varying pressure and density, creates a sense of depth and shadow. The laid paper – handmade, of course – adds a subtle texture that interacts with the ink, giving the drawings a tactile quality. Gandolfi was an accomplished draftsman and a master of the pen and ink medium. The drawings’ spontaneous, energetic lines capture the exaggerated features and expressions of the subjects, with swiftness and precision. They seem to capture fleeting moments. These are not finished works, but preparatory sketches, and they give us a window into Gandolfi’s artistic process, revealing his exploration of form and expression. It is in these kinds of works – the sketch, the maquette, the study – that we come closest to the artist’s hand. And it is this encounter with the artist’s labor that closes the distance between us and the past.