Gezicht van een oude vrouw met hoofddoek 1864

This is Jacob Taanman's etching, 'Gezicht van een oude vrouw met hoofddoek', at the Rijksmuseum. The small print presents a close-up of an elderly woman's face, framed by a headscarf. The composition centres on her weathered features, rendered with dense, intricate lines. Taanman’s technique, particularly his use of hatching and cross-hatching, creates a rich texture that defines the volumes of her face and the folds of her head covering. This emphasis on texture and form draws attention to the materiality of the etching itself – the way the ink sits on the paper. The etching engages with the tradition of portraiture while highlighting the effects of time and age. In doing so, Taanman invites us to reconsider conventional notions of beauty and representation. Rather than idealizing his subject, he presents her with unflinching honesty, challenging viewers to confront the realities of aging and mortality. The work ultimately functions as a meditation on the passage of time and its impact on the human form.