Kop van een grijsaard 1822

Johannes de Mare created this etching of an old man's head in 1822. Etching involves coating a metal plate with wax, drawing through the wax to expose the metal, and then immersing the plate in acid, which bites into the exposed lines. Ink is then applied to the plate, filling the etched lines, and the surface is wiped clean. Finally, the image is transferred to paper under high pressure in a printing press. The density of the etched lines give the image its tonality. Look closely and you'll see how de Mare varies the line work to create a full range of light and shadow, achieving photorealistic detail. The lines define the texture of the man's beard and the folds of his skin, giving depth and realism to the portrait. Etching allowed for the relatively easy reproduction of images. It democratized image-making, making art accessible to a wider audience, and enabling artists to disseminate their work more broadly. This print invites us to consider the labor involved not only in its creation, but also in its distribution and consumption.