Borstbeeld van een man met een korte baard 1625 - 1674

This is Jan Lievens’ etching, "Bust of a Man with a Short Beard", currently held in the Rijksmuseum. The portrait's striking feature is its concentration on texture and line, achieved with a monochromatic palette. The use of etching allows for incredibly fine, dense networks of lines that define not just the contours of the face but also the rough texture of the beard and fur collar. Lievens manipulates light and shadow, creating depth and volume that gives the figure a tangible presence. There’s a clear contrast between the rough, almost chaotic lines of the clothing and beard, and the smoother, more controlled areas of the face. This contrast draws attention to the man’s gaze, which is directed upwards and outwards. The structural use of line doesn’t just describe form, it evokes a sense of the subject’s inner state, a sense of introspection. The careful arrangement of these elements, combined with the inherent qualities of the etching medium, invite us to consider the interplay between representation and the material reality of the artwork itself.