Artwork
Man With Ruffled Collar
Man With Ruffled Collar is an ink print by the Baroque artist Unknown 19th Century. It dates from 1623 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
The work is an engraved portrait depicting a man with curly hair, a short beard, and a distinctive ruffled collar that spreads outward beneath his chin. Rendered in black and white, the image rests against an unadorned background, while the collar is textured with fine lines and stippling to suggest shading.
Subject & Meaning
The sitter appears to be a gentleman, his attire and grooming indicating a status of some refinement. The ruffled collar, a fashionable element in early modern dress, serves as the focal point, emphasizing the sitter’s social standing and the period’s aesthetic preferences.
Technique & Style
Executed as an engraving, the image relies on incised lines and dot work to model form and create tonal variation. The artist employs cross‑hatching and stippling, particularly on the collar, to convey depth and texture without the use of color.
History & Provenance
The print includes a Latin inscription and numerical markings along its border, a customary practice for labeling portraits with dates, names, or catalog references in earlier centuries. These details suggest the work was intended for identification and archival purposes.
Context
Ruffled collars were a hallmark of male fashion in the late 16th and early 17th centuries, especially in Europe. Engraved portraiture of this type often functioned as a means of disseminating the likeness of notable individuals before the advent of photography.
Artist & collection
Artist
