Prøveplade: Mandshoved med langt overskæg og spansk hue 1901

Curator: This print, dating to 1901, is called "Prøveplade: Mandshoved med langt overskæg og spansk hue," or in English, "Trial Plate: Man's Head with Long Moustache and Spanish Hat." Frans Schwartz created this etching, now held at the SMK, the National Gallery of Denmark. What are your initial thoughts? Editor: Oh, immediately, a somber mood hits me. The tight, close lines... It feels almost… tentative, you know? Like the artist is really trying to feel out the subject, trying to pin down not just a likeness but the essence of thought. The hat feels heavy. Curator: It's interesting you pick up on that, given that etching requires careful work on a metal plate. This impression, probably made during proofing, exemplifies labor intensive and thoughtful craftsmanship of the time, which is not usually the focus. Look closely, for instance, at how the network of tiny lines create texture on the fabric of the hat, and create a light tone to the cheek. Each line is a choice made in relation to the broader image construction and composition. Editor: Exactly! The moustache, too – those wiry ends… I'm fascinated by the humanity that etching can capture with these materials. How the man's face is in a state of being and quiet introspection. It transcends a mere reproduction into a true form of artistic inquiry of both the subject and materials themselves. The pressure and marks of hand in production add another dimension of intimate encounter and characterful charm. Curator: And the "trial plate" aspect reinforces the experimental nature. Proofing offered printmakers chances to assess their lines, refine their images, and experiment with the qualities unique to the medium. Editor: Right! He is practicing making marks! Learning how to create! I suppose I project on him that I am practicing to be myself when I look in a mirror, too. It brings this everyday feel, almost...like an exploration to figure something out. Curator: Absolutely. This etching really shows that material understanding of craftsmanship and intention. Editor: And, in a way, reveals us to ourselves, even. Wonderful.