Head of Young Man, in Profile to Right n.d.

This sanguine drawing captures a young man in profile. The anonymous artist, working with red chalk, focused on the classical profile of the figure. The profile, a tradition extending from ancient coins and portrait busts, implies a noble distance, an idealization of the sitter. Consider the profile in relation to other historical depictions. In Roman portraiture, the profile was employed to convey authority and power, as seen in imperial portraits on coins. Later, during the Renaissance, artists revived this form to emulate classical virtue and intellect. The clean, unbroken line from forehead to nose—almost a single stroke—mirrors the emphasis on reason. This image, though simple, engages with our collective memory of power and beauty. The profile isn't just a view; it's a statement, echoing through the ages. The cultural memory of this image resurfaces in the collective consciousness, evolving and adapting in each new historical context.