Study of a Kneeling Man

Pieter Lastman used the red chalk medium to create a highly detailed rendering of a kneeling man in a tiny space. Known for his ability to model in depth, Lastman also manipulated his lines to animate the varying textures, from the man's curly hair to the sinuous line of his large hands to the soft modeling of his heavy robe. The carefully worked drapery with elaborate folds and deeply shadowed long grooves is characteristic of his style. He gave the man eloquent hands and expressive eyes that look upward, encouraging the viewer to construct a narrative like those in the artist's many history paintings.