Who painted Two Profile Studies of a Man's Head?

Two Profile Studies of a Man's Head was painted by Sebald Beham in 1542.

Where can I see Two Profile Studies of a Man's Head?

Two Profile Studies of a Man's Head is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Two Profile Studies of a Man's Head?

Two Profile Studies of a Man's Head is associated with Renaissance.

Artwork

Two Profile Studies of a Man's Head

Sebald Beham , 1542

Two Profile Studies of a Man's Head is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Sebald Beham. It dates from 1542 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

This print shows a man’s head in profile twice—once facing left, once right—with a grid over the first face.

This print shows a man’s head in profile twice—once facing left, once right—with a grid over the first face. Tiny sketches of an ear and a nose sit in the grid’s corners. The second head is shaded with fine lines to show shadows and texture.

The title at the top reads *"Eines Mannes Haupt"* (German for "a man’s head"). The artist signed it "IsB" in the corner with the date 1542.

Next, check out engraving to see how artists like this carved images into metal.

Overview

Sebald Beham’s 1542 engraving presents two side‑view portraits of a single male head. The composition places one profile facing left, overlaid with a faint grid and marginal sketches of ear and nose, while the opposite profile is rendered in delicate hatching that models light and form. The work bears the German inscription “Eines Mannes Haupt” and Beham’s monogram “IsB” with the date.

Subject & Meaning

The dual profiles function as a comparative study of facial anatomy, emphasizing the artist’s interest in precise observation. By juxtaposing a gridded, diagrammatic rendering with a fully shaded figure, the print explores the relationship between structural measurement and the perception of three‑dimensional form.

Technique & Style

Executed as an engraving, the image showcases Beham’s characteristic fine line work. The grid and auxiliary sketches are incised with light, almost invisible strokes, while the shaded profile employs closely spaced parallel lines to suggest volume. This meticulous approach reflects the “Little Masters” tradition of intricate, small‑scale prints.

History & Provenance

Created in Nuremberg, where Beham was born, the print dates to a period when he was active in both his hometown and later in Frankfurt. It exemplifies his prolific output of engravings, etchings, and woodcuts during the mid‑16th century, a time when German printmakers were expanding the technical possibilities of the medium.

Context

Beham belonged to the “Little Masters,” a group of German artists who followed Albrecht Dürer’s legacy by producing highly detailed, diminutive prints for a growing market of collectors. Their works often combined scholarly interests—such as anatomy and geometry—with the decorative appeal of finely rendered images.