Hoved af en ældre kone, vendt mod venstre, med nedadrettet blik 1865 - 1917

This is Frans Schwartz’s ‘Head of an Old Woman, Facing Left, with Eyes Cast Down’, an etching rendered with sparse yet evocative lines. The piece is small, inviting a close, intimate viewing. Notice how Schwartz uses hatching and cross-hatching to build volume and shadow. The density of lines around the woman's neck and hair contrasts with the relative blankness of the background, pushing her forward in the picture plane. Her gaze, directed downwards, creates a sense of introspection. The etched lines, though minimal, capture the nuances of aging – the folds of skin, the set of her mouth. Consider the historical context: Schwartz, working in the late 19th and early 20th century, engages with a broader artistic interest in realism. This work captures not just a likeness but also a sense of psychological depth. The woman is not idealized; instead, her humanity is presented with stark honesty. The very act of etching, with its precise lines, mirrors a desire to understand and represent the world with clarity and detail. It is through this meticulous mark-making that Schwartz invites us to reflect on the complexities of age, representation, and the human condition.