Portrait of Morose Man in Half-Length 1591 - 1666

This portrait of a man, with a morose expression, was created by Guercino, sometime between 1607 and 1666, with pen and brown ink on laid paper. The artist worked with simple tools and materials, in a highly skilled way. The fineness of the lines, the way they are built up to model the form, and the controlled washes of ink, all speak to a mastery of technique. The use of drawing was central to the workshop process, as a means to explore form and composition, and to train apprentices. The artist has created variations in tone with a build-up of lines, and hatching in different directions. These drawings would have been relatively quick and cheap to produce, when compared to a painting, although still requiring the hand of a trained artist. The act of drawing allowed him to capture a likeness, study the effects of light and shadow, and convey a mood. By focusing on materials, making, and context, we gain a fuller understanding of the artwork and the artist's practice, challenging distinctions between fine art and craft.