Man with square beard and curly hair: bust c. 1631

Rembrandt van Rijn created this etching, “Man with square beard and curly hair: bust”, using metal and acid. Consider the labour that goes into the making of an etching. The artist would have covered a metal plate with a waxy, acid-resistant coating. Then, using a sharp needle, they would draw into the wax, exposing the metal underneath. The plate would be submerged in acid, which bites into the exposed lines, creating grooves. After removing the wax, ink is applied, filling the etched lines. Finally, the plate is pressed onto paper, transferring the ink and creating the print. The magic of etching lies in the control of the line, and the subtle gradations of tone achievable through varying the depth and density of the etched lines. It allowed Rembrandt to create multiple originals, democratizing art production and distribution. This print embodies the industrious spirit of the Dutch Golden Age, where art became a commodity, accessible to a wider audience.