Who created "Head of a Man"?

Head of a Man was created by Antoine Watteau in ca. 1718.

When was "Head of a Man" created?

This artwork was created ca. 1718.

What medium is "Head of a Man"?

Head of a Man is Red and black chalk.

Is "Head of a Man" in the public domain?

Yes, Head of a Man is in the public domain and available for free download under CC0 license.

Head of a Man

Antoine Watteau

ca. 1718

Medium

Red and black chalk

Dimensions

5 7/8 x 5 3/16 in. (14.9 x 13.1 cm)

Classification

Drawings

Department

Drawings and Prints

Museum

Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY

Credit

Rogers Fund, 1937

Accession Number

37.165.107

Tags

HeadsMen

Art Historical Context

Step into the intimate world of Antoine Watteau *Head of a Man* (ca. 1718), a masterful drawing that captures the French Rococo master's unparalleled sensitivity to human expression. Created with red and black chalk on a modest 5 7/8 x 5 3/16 inches sheet, this work exemplifies Watteau's (1684–1721) genius for portrait studies. As a pioneer of the Rococo style—known for its playful elegance and fêtes galantes—this piece likely served as a preparatory sketch, showcasing his fluid line work and subtle tonal modeling that brought his painted figures to life. Watteau's use of red chalk for warm f...

About the Artist

Antoine Watteau · 1684–1721

Jean-Antoine Watteau, born in 1684 in Valenciennes to a modest family—his father a roofer named Jean-Philippe Watteau—was the second of four sons who displayed an early passion for art. After initial apprenticeship under local painter Jacques-Albert Gérin, he moved to Paris around 1702, working in workshops copying Flemish and Dutch genre scenes. By 1705, he entered the studio of Claude Gillot, ab...

Head of a Man

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