Mugshot series

“A face is a ruler by which we measure everything

This artwork is a mugshot-style portrait, created using cross-hatching techniques with pen and ink. The subject, a stern-faced man, wears a numbered police plaque, reinforcing the historical and documentary nature of the piece. The stark, empty background isolates the figure, enhancing the intense focus on his expression.

Technique

The artist employs dense cross-hatching to build depth, texture, and dramatic contrast. Fine, overlapping lines shape the contours of the face, emphasizing wrinkles, tension in the brow, and the rugged details of the skin. The use of varied line weight and direction enhances realism, giving the portrait a raw, gritty texture reminiscent of vintage police records.

Concept & Meaning

By choosing a mugshot as the subject, the artwork evokes themes of identity, crime, and social judgment. Mugshots are more than just records; they symbolize authority, justice, and the way society perceives individuals within the legal system. The subject’s hardened expression suggests defiance, remorse, or resilience, leaving the viewer to question his story beyond the arrest.

This piece transcends simple portraiture, using historical reference and technique to provoke deeper thought about justice, power, and personal history.