Standing Man with Cape and Feathered Cap 1774 - 1789

Jean-Pierre Norblin de la Gourdaine created "Standing Man with Cape and Feathered Cap" using etching techniques. Notice how the artist used delicate lines to define the figure, set against the stark flatness of the paper. The contrast between the detailed figure and the blank space throws the structural elements into sharp relief. The subject stands with a sense of understated drama in an arched frame. Gourdaine's skillful handling of line and shadow gives the figure weight and presence. The cape’s dark lines pool and move around the subject to draw the eye. The texture implies a sense of semiotic weight, giving form to the figure. The etching exemplifies how minimal form can convey maximum expression, a nod to both the style and intellectual environment of the period. This work presents an opportunity to see how an artist exploits the graphic potential of etching to create a lasting visual impact.