Catalogue of Human Expression

Ink study sheet of eleven expressive male heads in Old Master drawing tradition

Jacques de Gheyn II

This study sheet presents eleven male heads, each capturing a different emotional state through varied expressions and angles. Jacques de Gheyn II employs pen and brown ink with black chalk to explore the full range of human feeling, from contemplation to anguish. The artist arranges these portraits asymmetrically across the paper, creating a dynamic composition that showcases his mastery of physiognomy. This work demonstrates the Northern European tradition of careful observation and psychological insight that would influence centuries of portrait art.