Two Studies for a Grotesque Head 16th - 17th century

Curator: Look at this striking sheet, "Two Studies for a Grotesque Head." It was created sometime in the 16th or 17th century by an anonymous artist. Immediately, the raw emotional intensity is what strikes me. Editor: Yes, the stark use of charcoal really brings forth an immediate sense of unrest. What draws my attention first is the materiality – the texture of the paper and the rough application of the charcoal give the work a palpable, almost visceral quality. Curator: Absolutely. The drawing, currently held here at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, perfectly illustrates Mannerist art style through its exaggerated forms. Take for instance the grotesque imagery which offers visual freedom, driven by emotional and aesthetic intensity rather than realism. The artist freely manipulates the features. Editor: How fascinating. Consider also how charcoal, being easily smudged, allows for the rapid capture of fleeting emotions, the material properties impacting how an image conveys instability and the transitory nature of affect itself. Were similar studies mass-produced, sold as novelties for consumption? I find that consideration as telling as its formal aspects. Curator: I appreciate your perspective. I imagine the image might have been used within academic art circles. After all, in its artful handling of dark and light, you discern clear technical skill that must have impressed contemporary viewers. The dramatic faces were undoubtedly studies meant to capture exaggerated emotion for use in some large, epic scene of suffering or triumph. Editor: Perhaps the point of departure comes down to the reading. How does art affect our material surroundings, and how does material dictate artistic form? And does charcoal's easy access change access to the consumption or art? While I don't discard the stylistic and technical value of art, my attention draws more towards the environment of art production. Curator: That’s a valuable distinction. Even as we debate intent, the very intensity it conveys, that feeling continues to resonate through time. Editor: Indeed. I will reconsider this piece with new formal elements to keep in mind.