Portrait of Duke Beccadelli c. early 20th century

Pier Leone Ghezzi made this portrait of Duke Beccadelli with pen and brown wash on paper. Isn’t it funny how a few strokes can tell us so much? The thin wash lets the paper breathe, doesn't it? It's all about capturing a likeness, a moment, with such economy. There's a real lightness of touch. I love the quick, almost scribbled lines that define the Duke's wig, and then the delicate hatching that gives shape to his coat. The way the lines trail off into nothing makes him seem caught in motion, like a fleeting glimpse. Look at the confidence of that line describing his nose. It's like Ghezzi is saying, "Here's the man, in all his…character!" This kind of loose, expressive drawing reminds me of some of Picasso's more playful sketches. It's all about suggestion, leaving space for our imaginations to fill in the gaps. It reminds us that art is just as much about the process as it is about the final product.