Plate 4: two profiles and three mouths, from 'The Book for Learning to Draw' (Livre pour apprendre à dessiner) 1647 - 1652

Stefano della Bella created 'Plate 4: two profiles and three mouths, from "The Book for Learning to Draw"' with ink on paper. The composition is deceptively simple; five studies of mouths and noses, carefully arranged. Two profiles flank a frontal view of a nose and mouth, with two additional mouth studies placed below. Della Bella uses line, not to capture realistic detail, but to isolate form. The simplicity prompts us to consider the underlying structure of the face. The precise lines and their arrangement across the page create a sense of order, almost a semiotic system, where each element is a sign contributing to the whole. The artwork is not merely representational but analytical. It challenges us to see beyond the immediate, engaging with how we perceive and understand the fundamental elements of facial structure. This piece invites continuous re-interpretation, allowing us to question fixed meanings and categories in art and perception.