Study for a Male Figure Lowered into a Grave (recto); Kneeling Female Figure in Profile to Left (verso) 1607 - 1613

Ludovico Cardi, known as Cigoli, rendered this study for a male figure with pen and brown ink, heightened with white gouache over black chalk on blue paper. The monochromatic palette immediately establishes a somber mood, fitting for a subject being lowered into a grave. The composition centers around the diagonal slope of the body, counterbalanced by the verticality implied by the hands above, creating a dynamic tension. Cigoli’s use of chiaroscuro, the strong contrast between light and dark, sculpts the figure, emphasizing the folds of fabric and the contours of the body. This technique not only adds depth but also directs the viewer's eye, creating a sense of drama. The loose, gestural lines suggest movement and instability, mirroring the precarious nature of mortality. The rough texture of the medium enhances this effect, adding a tactile dimension to the visual experience. Through formal choices, Cigoli transforms a study into a meditation on the human condition. Art, after all, is an open signifier, where forms are perpetually resignified.