Bust of a man with beard and calotte; 3/4 profile towards the left 1582

This is Melchior Lorck's "Bust of a man with beard and calotte," a small yet intricate drawing. The dense cross-hatching technique creates a stark contrast, evoking a palpable sense of texture. The man's gaze, directed slightly off-center, draws you into the image, fostering a sense of intimacy. Lorck's use of line is particularly striking. Note how the lines not only define form but also convey the weight and density of the beard and fur collar. Semiotically, the beard and calotte serve as signs of status and cultural identity. The octagonal boundary is divided horizontally into three sections, each with a different type of line: vertical, horizontal, and cross-hatched. This can be seen as an exploration of the semiotic possibilities inherent in lines. Ultimately, Lorck's manipulation of line and form invites us to reflect on the interplay between representation and reality, challenging fixed meanings and categories.