Mandligt portræthoved 1625 - 1677

Heinrich Dittmers made this head study of a man with chalk on blue paper in the 17th century. This drawing might be a preparatory sketch for a larger history painting or group portrait, genres of painting that were extremely popular among the Northern European elite at this time. The man's strong brow and elegantly curled mustache indicate that he likely belonged to the upper class. The fact that Dittmers made a detailed drawing of the man's head suggests that it was important for the final painting to capture his likeness accurately. To understand the context in which this drawing was made, we can look at the social and political structures of 17th-century Europe, the patronage system of artistic production, and the institutional history of art academies. Art historians can draw on letters, journals, financial records, and other documents to learn more about the artist, his subject, and the world in which they lived.