Head of an Old Man 1635

This Head of an Old Man was made with oil on canvas, sometime in the 17th century by Jusepe de Ribera. Oil paint, as a medium, allowed Ribera to build up layers of color, creating depth and texture in the old man's face and beard. The rough canvas support shows through, adding to the sense of immediacy. Look closely, and you can almost feel the weight of the man’s years. Ribera's skilled application of paint—blending, layering, and texturing—reveals not only the physical attributes of the subject, but also the weight of experience etched into his features. Consider the skilled labor required to grind pigments and prepare paints, the cost of materials, and the time spent refining his technique through years of practice. By emphasizing the material qualities and the labor involved in its creation, we come to understand how much Ribera's work transcends mere representation.