Drawing is often seen as the most immediate of the fine arts, capturing a subject’s essence in quick, suggestive strokes of chalk, pencil, or ink. This can be particularly evident in portrait drawing where the dynamism of the medium allows for the recording of a likeness in the here and now, while simultaneously offering clues into the relationship between artist and sitter. In a new exhibition titled Life Lines: Portrait Drawings from Dürer to Picasso, the Morgan Library & Museum takes visitors on a fascinating exploration of the genre. Spanning five centuries and including more than fifty works—from Dürer’s moving sketch of his brother Endres to Picasso’s highly expressive portrait of the actress Marie Derval—the show features treasures from the Morgan’s collection as well as a number of notable

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