This study of an archer is of particular interest precisely because of its unfinished state. It provides us with a glimpse of the process involved in creating a painting. The outline of this figure, boldly and swiftly sketched, graphically reveals the artist’s trials and alterations, which would have been lost if the painting had been finished. Once he was satisfied with the drawing, the artist colored the face and the hands; the skin has been painted in an even, dusky tone that heightens their realism. Despite the idealization of the large eyes and the undulating brows, the face, with its noble nose and splendidly curling moustache, is rendered with acuity and expressiveness.
Opaque watercolor and ink on paper
