Hanged Men and Two Portraits 1430

Pisanello made this unsettling drawing, titled "Hanged Men and Two Portraits," sometime in the first half of the 15th century. In this work, several bodies hang suspended above two portraits, creating a composition that’s visually stark. Pisanello uses line to define the contours of the figures, each rendered with careful attention to anatomical detail. The arrangement of the figures suggests a contrast between life and death, yet the formal treatment of both is strikingly similar. The artist’s interest in the human form transcends moral judgment or narrative, which is an exploration of form rather than a commentary on justice or morality. This work invites us to consider how Pisanello employs the visual language of drawing to explore the limits of representation, blurring the lines between the living and the dead. By focusing on the formal aspects of the body, he encourages viewers to contemplate the human condition beyond conventional moral frameworks.