Kop van een oude man 1732 - 1776

This is Gilles Demarteau's "Kop van een oude man", a drawing of an old man's head, made with chalk. Notice the texture created by the chalk. The strokes are short and dense, building up layers that give the impression of depth and age. The head is bowed, drawing our eye to the details of the face, where lines map the contours of skin and bone. Demarteau plays with light and shadow, guiding our perception of the man's expression. The drawing is not just a portrait. It's a study in contrasts. The softness of the chalk against the rough lines suggests a play between the ideal and the real, challenging classical notions of beauty. The way the artist uses line and shadow explores themes of mortality and the passage of time. The drawing remains open to interpretation, inviting us to reflect on how art can capture the complexities of human existence through form and technique.