Porträt eines jungen Mannes 

Philipp Winterwerb created this portrait of a young man sometime in the 19th century, using graphite on paper. What strikes me most is the immediacy and intimacy that come from the material process. Graphite, essentially processed carbon, allows for a direct transfer of the artist's hand to the page. You can see the varying pressure of the pencil, the subtle gradations of tone that model the young man’s face and clothing. The artist carefully renders the soft texture of the hair, and the crisp lines of the jacket. This directness is significant. Unlike the laborious processes of oil painting, which require extensive layering and drying time, a graphite sketch allows for a more spontaneous expression. It’s a medium conducive to capturing a likeness quickly, perhaps even in a single sitting. In doing so, Winterwerb offers a glimpse into the life of this young man, and the world he inhabited. It is a medium that democratizes portraiture, making it more accessible, and capturing a slice of social history.