Art Institute of Chicago

Portrait of a Man

Flemish

Date

c. 1575

Medium

Oil on panel

Culture

Flanders

Department

Painting and Sculpture of Europe

Institution

Art Institute of Chicago

A mottled background, pitch-black costume, and bright ruff all serve to highlight the enigmatic visage of this unidentified man. Though his arresting gaze invites the viewer in, his face is also turned away and cast partially in shadow, as if he seeks to keep his distance from the individual on the other side of the picture plane. Other versions of this composition exist, suggesting that the man’s mysterious character and distinctive appearance captivated many artists and patrons of his time.

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