Oval, Bust-Length Portrait Study of a Young Man 1735 - 1765

This charcoal and chalk drawing on blue paper by Joseph van Aken, a Dutch painter and draughtsman, depicts a young man in an oval portrait format. Created between 1735 and 1765, the drawing showcases the artist's masterful use of light and shadow, capturing the subject's features with remarkable detail. The work is a study for a larger painting and exemplifies the practice of portraiture prevalent during the Rococo period. Now housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, the drawing remains a testament to van Aken's skill and the enduring appeal of portraiture in art history.