Hoofd van een bebaarde man 1885

This is Auguste Danse's etching, *Head of a Bearded Man*, created in 1885. Danse, working in the late 19th century, positioned himself within a revival of printmaking. Here, he presents us with the head and shoulders of an unknown man. His gaze is direct and challenging, framed by a long, untamed beard and simple head covering. The lines are etched with a stark realism, almost confrontational in its intensity. What stories are etched on this man’s face? Consider the role of portraiture in the 19th century – often reserved for the elite. Danse disrupts this tradition, choosing instead a subject who appears worn by life, perhaps from the working class. It invites us to consider the lives and dignity of those often overlooked in the grand narratives of history. It evokes a sense of intimacy and humanity, urging us to confront our own assumptions about class, age, and identity.