The artwork, “Portrait of a Young Man,” created by Rogier van der Weyden around c.1430 – c.1439, is a product of the Northern Renaissance and falls under the genre of sketch and study. The piece is currently housed at the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin in Berlin, Germany.
In this delicate sketch, the portrait vividly captures a young man with a solemn expression. Crafted with meticulous attention to detail, the restrained use of shading effectively highlights the contours of the man’s face, conveying a deep sense of character and introspection. His attire, rendered with intricate lines, depicts a loose garment that folds and drapes naturally, demonstrating the artist’s adept understanding of fabric and form. The young man’s slightly averted gaze suggests a moment of reflection, lending the portrait an air of quiet pensiveness that is typical of Rogier van der Weyden’s masterful studies.
