Four Heads (from Characaturas by Leonardo da Vinci, from Drawings by Wenceslaus Hollar, out of the Portland Museum) 1786

"Four Heads" is an etching from 1786 by Wenceslaus Hollar, a prolific Czech-born artist known for his detailed engravings. The print features four individual portraits of faces, all with exaggerated features, presented in a grid format within individual frames. Hollar's "Characaturas" series was inspired by Leonardo da Vinci's studies of human anatomy and physiognomy. Hollar was a master of etching, using intricate lines to capture the play of light and shadow, giving depth and texture to his subjects.