At first glance, the highly-technical drawings of Emanuele Dascanio look as though they’re photographs—it’s only until you see the Italian artist put pencil to paper that you realize and appreciate the true value of his artistic skill. The large, labor-intensive portraits—some that take up to 780 hours to complete—feature a combination of graphite and charcoal that are expertly rendered to form hyperrealistic compositions. Against a pitch-black backdrop, the illuminated figures’ incredible details are brought to life: every stray hair, wrinkle, and fold of fabric is visible.
Although Dascanio’s work is contemporary, it has a classic feel to it. The subjects are often lit with a dramatic single light source that recalls the paintings of Caravaggio, the renowned 16th century artist. This influence was fostered by Dascanio’s assistantship to Italian painter Gianluca Corona, who taught him the oil techniques of the old masters working during the Renaissance. Dascanio has since translated these skills into the monochromatic works that undoubtedly fool the eye with their extreme precision.
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