Who painted Head of an Old Man?

Head of an Old Man was painted by Gerrit Claesz Bleker in 1632.

Where can I see Head of an Old Man?

Head of an Old Man is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Head of an Old Man?

Head of an Old Man is associated with Baroque.

Artwork

Head of an Old Man

Gerrit Claesz Bleker , 1632

Head of an Old Man is a chalk drawing by the Baroque artist Gerrit Claesz Bleker. It dates from 1632 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Head of an Old Man is a drawing executed in 1632 by the Dutch artist Gerrit Claesz Bleker. Rendered in black and white chalk on brown paper, the work presents a solitary portrait of an elderly male figure. Though modest in scale, the drawing exemplifies the artist’s engagement with the Baroque period’s interest in expressive, individualized likenesses.

Subject & Meaning

The composition focuses exclusively on the sitter’s head, emphasizing the texture of skin, the depth of the brow, and the contemplative gaze. The aged features convey a sense of experience and introspection, inviting viewers to consider the passage of time and the dignity inherent in the portrayal of an ordinary individual rather than a mythic or religious figure.

Technique & Style

Bleker employed a limited palette of black and white chalk, allowing for a nuanced range of tonal values on the warm brown paper support. The drawing utilizes chiaroscuro shading to model the facial planes, a hallmark of Baroque visual strategies that heighten three‑dimensionality and emotional resonance through contrast and subtle gradations.

History & Provenance

Created in the early seventeenth century, the drawing remains attributed to Bleker based on stylistic analysis and documented signatures. Its provenance traces through several private collections before entering a public institution, where it is catalogued as part of the artist’s oeuvre of portrait studies from the Dutch Baroque era.