Head of a Man in Profile Facing to the Left

Description

Head of a Man in Profile by Leonardo da Vinci turns sharply toward the left, with curled hair and a creased face giving the study an expressive presence. Dense hatching brings particular emphasis to the features while the surrounding paper stays relatively open. The image holds attention through the specificity of one face, making its contours and changes of tone feel closely observed.

Drawn in 1490–94 with pen and brown ink over soft black chalk, the study gives line both a descriptive and an energetic role. Marks follow the head’s forms without concealing the act of drawing, allowing the viewer to encounter the face and the artist’s handling together. Its appeal lies in the concentration given to a single profile, where an individual appearance becomes absorbing through the rhythm of curls, wrinkles and the decisive outline against the pale ground.

Read our guide to giclée prints or browse the Leonardo da Vinci collection.