Head of a Bearded Man in a Hat c. 1650

Adriaen van Ostade created this drawing, "Head of a Bearded Man in a Hat," using chalk and watercolour. The composition centres on the man's face, rendered with a striking realism achieved through layered strokes of watercolour. His face, furrowed with age and etched with character, invites an intense study of detail. Note the hat—it is rendered simply in chalk, a form that frames the face, drawing our eye to the complex modelling achieved through watercolour. The drawing is not just a portrait but an exploration of form and texture. Ostade masterfully uses the contrasting mediums to play with depth and shadow. The materiality of the chalk creates a soft, almost blurred effect, contrasting the sharper lines of the watercolour, which define the man's features. Consider how Ostade destabilizes traditional portraiture by focusing on the raw, unidealized aspects of his subject. The artwork prompts us to look beyond mere representation and engage with the deeper structures of human existence.