Studie til et mandsportræt, 3/4 figur, højre hånd, holdende handske, støttet i siden, venstre hånd støttet på stok 1625 - 1677

Heinrich Dittmers created this study for a man's portrait in the mid-17th century, using black and white chalk on paper. Notice how the chalk has been applied in layers, with the white creating highlights on the man's clothing and the curtain behind him. The very texture of the paper is engaged in the work: see how it creates subtle gradations of tone? The study is incomplete, but gives insight into the economy of the Dutch Golden Age. The man’s garments show the labor of tailoring, lacemaking, and embroidery, as well as the global trade that brought these materials into Europe. His gloved hand resting on a walking stick suggests leisurely status. Dittmer’s chalk study is not simply a portrait of a man, but an index of social and economic history. It reminds us that what might seem like a simple drawing is actually a complex layering of material, labor, and the social world.