Caricature of a Man Seen from Behind

Caricature of a Man Seen from Behind is an exquisite drawing created by the Venetian master Giovanni Battista Tiepolo between 1755 and 1765. Executed in pen and black ink combined with a subtle gray wash, this piece exemplifies Tiepolo’s remarkable fluency and wit, demonstrating his mastery not just of grand ceiling frescoes, but also of the intimate and informal genre of the drawn capriccio. Classified specifically as a drawing, the work captures a fleeting moment of observation.

The subject, a man depicted entirely from the back, is rendered with rapid, assured strokes characteristic of Tiepolo’s studies of everyday men. The visual humor lies in the subject's exaggerated silhouette, focusing on the outline and posture. The figure, perhaps bulky or encased in formal wear, is brought to life through the economy of the line. Tiepolo expertly uses the gray wash to provide volume and depth, giving weight to the coat and providing definition to the figure while maintaining the spontaneous energy of the black ink outline. This method showcases the technical brilliance of the artist in synthesizing quick observational sketches with subtle atmospheric modeling.

Dating from the mid-18th century, this type of satirical observation reflects a common interest among Venetian artists in capturing the idiosyncratic nature of individuals encountered in contemporary life. Although known primarily for his religious and mythological compositions, Tiepolo maintained a prolific output of drawings in this style. This collection of preparatory and genre drawings often circulated privately among collectors during and after the artist's lifetime. Today, this drawing is a highlight of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection. As the original drawing is a foundational piece in art history, high-resolution scans are frequently placed in the public domain, allowing students and enthusiasts worldwide to access high-quality prints and reproductions of Tiepolo’s inventive ink work.